Celebrating 50 years of the Wilderness Act

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law 50 years ago, establishing the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The law set aside 9.1 million acres of wildlands.  Over the past 50 years, 100 million acres have been added to the system.

There are over 750 wilderness areas in the county.  In the Upper Peninsula, those lands include the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests, the Grand Island Recreation Area, and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

The NWPS was established for the American people to enjoy the land for scientific, educational and recreational activities.  Its lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Services, Forest Service, and the National Park Service.