By Kacee Saturay, WNPF Donor Stewardship and Social Media Manager
Like many national park fans, visiting all 63 designated National Parks (or 429 NPS sites if you’re an overachiever) might be part of your bucket list. But if you’re looking for an even bigger challenge or want to explore beyond the United States, have you heard of UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
If you’ve already visited Olympic National Park, then you can cross that off your World Heritage Site list! But what’s the challenge? As of 2024, there are 1,223 sites on the World Heritage list, across 168 countries, and 26 sites located in the United States – now that is a challenge.
So what exactly is a World Heritage Site and why is Olympic National Park on the list? Let’s explore this unique and significant designation.
According to UNESCO, “World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.” On November 16, 1972, the World Heritage Convention was adopted, becoming an international treaty that recognizes the overlap and importance of preserving cultural heritage and the natural world.
During the annual convention, the World Heritage Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed into the World Heritage List. Becoming a site has many benefits: It enhances the importance of protections, raises global awareness and tourism, and attracts funding for preservation through the World Heritage Fund.
Like mentioned earlier, there are 26 sites in the U.S. and most of those are administered by the National Park Service (NPS). According to the NPS, before being considered on the World Heritage List, “a site must meet one or more of the ten World Heritage Committee selection criteria, be on a State Party’s Tentative List, and go through a nomination process… A site can be proposed for inscription only by the country in which the property is located.” Check out the NPS quick guide to the World Heritage Program.
Olympic National Park’s diverse ecosystems, varied topography, and endemic wildlife are just a few reasons why this park is popular amongst domestic and international visitors. After 43 years of being an established national park, Olympic National Park became a World Heritage Site in 1981. The park met two of the ten selection criteria:
The park has Outstanding Universal Value, a term coined for UNESCO sites, which means Olympic National Park has so much natural and/or cultural significance that it transcends national boundaries and should be seen and protected for future generations across the world – a sentiment that is commonly shared with the mission of the National Park Service.
Alongside Olympic National Park, we encourage you to visit the other UNESCO sites in the United States if you haven’t already. As you explore these sites with Outstanding Universal Value, here are a couple things to remember. 1) Recreate Responsibly. You can do so by practicing Leave No Trace and learning about the history and people who were the first stewards of these sites. 2) Support Preservation Efforts. Consider donating to Washington’s National Park Fund or other organizations focused on protecting a park or site. Nonprofit partners like WNPF are critical in funding projects that would otherwise go unfunded.
By recreating responsibly and supporting preservation efforts, you’ll inspire more people to explore public lands and protect places that hold historical, cultural, and natural resources.
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. We raise funds to preserve and enhance the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities of these national parks so that they remain vibrant, thriving ecosystems and cherished destinations for future generations.
Cover Photo courtesy of John Gussman, friend of WNPF.