It’s been almost 100 years since President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service into existence, forming a federal body in charge of conserving the natural and cultural resources in the country. On August 25, the National Park Service wants to celebrate its centennial on the National Mall, by inviting 1,000 people to create the largest version of its emblem.
“We’re confident that nothing of this size or scale with [NPS] employees and the public has been attempted on the National Mall,” NPS spokesman Michael Litterst says.
The formation will take place on 9 AM on the west side of the Washington Monument tha day, with participants carrying brown, green, and white umbrellas to shape into the features of the NPS arrowhead—depicting a sequoia tree, bison, mountains, water and the arrowhead’s outline. It’s expected to measure at 150 feet in length and 130 feet in width.
An aerial photograph of the arrangement will be taken and shared with those in attendance and on the National Mall and Memorial Parks website and social media.
While this isn’t the first time that the masses congregate on the National Mall, as far as NPS birthdays, this is the perfect celebration spot. According to Litterst, the National Mall is one most visited NPS sites and “contains the oldest elements of today’s National Park System dating to 1790.”
The first 1,000 participants to arrive will receive a T-shirt and get to keep their umbrellas. You can sign up here.
