Parks Modern Repository and Archive

The Parks Modern Repository and Archive preserves the broad Modern design legacy of the National Park Service and associated organizations. The collection consists of mid to late 20th century ephemera produced by the National Park Service, park-affiliated organizations and limited commercial concerns.

Spanning fifty years (approximately 1945 - 1995), the archive includes such items as brochures, posters, guides, handbooks, books, photographs, planning documents, and pamphlets. Parks Modern is also a repository for relevant de-commissioned park exhibits and signage, select souvenir items, and other objects. In addition to NPS materials, the collection includes state park materials of interest and items produced for national parks worldwide. The collection currently holds in the ballpark of two thousand items.

While preservation is Park Modern’s primary mandate, collections items are available to designers and researchers on a limited basis. The goal of Parks Modern is to give the public full access to the collection by means of digital exhibits and, eventually, a searchable online database.

If you or your organization or park unit has materials it would like to donate to the archive for preservation, please contact us through the form on this website. If you would like to make a financial contribution to the archive to further its work of preservation and public access, you can do so by clicking HERE.