Virgin Islands National Park established Aug 2, 2024

Virgin Islands National Park established

In 1956, businessman and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller saw the beauty of St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and knew it had to be preserved. He donated more than 5,000 acres of land to the National Park Service, and today we"re marking the 68th anniversary of Virgin Islands National Park. Covering about 60% of St. John and 5,650 acres of submerged lands, the park boasts stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and historic sites.

© cdwheatley/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Aug 2, 2018The Aomori Nebuta Festival parade, Japan
Aug 2, 2019An uncommon look at an American icon
Aug 2, 2020Bellissima!
Aug 2, 2021This reef is nowhere near the sea…
Aug 2, 2022Happy birthday, Capitol Reef National Park
Aug 2, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 14, 2025National Dolphin Day
Sep 10, 2023Grandparents Day
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
Feb 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Dec 14, 2023Christmas Bird Count
Dec 7, 2020In memory of those lost
Nov 29, 2023Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting
Nov 11, 2020Honoring our veterans
Jan 16, 2025Anniversary of Pinnacles National Park, California
Mar 7, 2020Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
Mar 20, 2020Heron lies the Salton Sea
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
May 18, 2019A ‘city’ within Valencia
Dec 18, 2019It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Jan 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Nov 19, 2019Zion National Park Turns 100
Feb 3, 2020The moai you know
Apr 2, 2021White dunes, blue lagoons
May 28, 2019Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow?
Apr 25, 2019Here comes summer
Aug 13, 2019An ice cap-puccino
Oct 31, 2025Happy Halloween!
Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
Apr 10, 2024Siblings Day
Apr 10, 2021Bear cubs roughhouse on Siblings Day
Oct 31, 2023Halloween
Feb 9, 2025Alstrom Point, Lake Powell, Utah
Oct 1, 2022Yosemite National Park turns 132
Jan 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Dec 14, 2025Audubon Christmas Bird Count