Big sky at Big Bend Jun 12, 2020

Seventy-six years ago today, on June 12, 1944, Big Bend officially became a US national park. The park covers more than 800,000 acres in West Texas along the Mexico border. This vast area—big enough to swallow Rhode Island—contains mountain, river, and desert ecosystems, including the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. Far removed from any urban centers and the light pollution that comes with them, Big Bend boasts some of the darkest skies you"ll find in the Lower 48, earning it a designation as an international dark sky park. Even after 76 years, Big Bend still glows.

© Stanley Ford/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jun 12, 2018Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Jun 12, 2019A big birthday for Big Bend
Jun 12, 2021In Texas, even the riverbend is big
Jun 12, 2022Big Bend National Park turns 78
Jun 12, 2023Big Bend National Parks birthday
Jun 12, 2024Big Bend National Park anniversary
Jun 12, 2025Big Bend National Park in Texas turns 81

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
Dec 26, 2025Boxing Day
Jun 7, 2020A hermitage with a view
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
May 27, 2021Listening to the sea
Feb 19, 2025European river otter, Netherlands
Jul 25, 2019Jane’s Carousel delights
Jun 28, 2022Tafilalet oasis in Morocco
Oct 24, 2022Diwali lights in Guwahati, India
Jul 12, 2025Thomsons gazelles, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Mar 21, 2023International Day of Color
Sep 17, 2022Oktoberfest
Apr 9, 2025Naxos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
Feb 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Dec 23, 2021Festivus
Nov 3, 2022International Day for Biosphere Reserves
Apr 25, 2023World Penguin Day
Dec 15, 2018A long winter’s nap, perhaps?
Jul 19, 2022National Bison Month
Jul 12, 2023Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Dec 19, 2022Northern cardinal in winterberry bush
Dec 12, 2018The story of the poinsettia
Dec 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Jun 21, 2018Inhale and exhale, it’s Yoga Day
Jul 10, 2024Collared aracari in Costa Rica
Jul 5, 2025Tour de France begins
Nov 10, 2021Cumberland Island National Seashore
Mar 24, 2021A whale of a picture
Feb 10, 2022The Old City of Bern
Nov 7, 2019Paris is photo-ready this week