Our Mission

Eastern National provides quality educational products and services to visitors to America’s national parks and other public trusts.

Eastern National's Vision

Through the years, the American people have had the foresight to create national parks and other instruments of public trust that set aside and protect places of exceptional value to their cultural heritage and natural landscape. We believe that the highest value of these special places lies in the unparalleled ability to unlock, for all who might visit or wish to know more of them, the lessons of our past, the accomplishments of our people and the wonder of our natural environment. To this end, Eastern National affirms its commitment to the National Park Service and other caretakers of public trust. Eastern National renews its continuing deduction to helping visitors find the information, materials and experiences they need to fully understand and appreciate the legacy of the places they will visit … today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Strategic Goals

• Strengthen our relationship with the National Park Service and reinforce its mission.
• Ensure our organizational capacity to efficiently support the sharing community of parks.
• Foster a productive workforce that provides quality services.
• Develop and expand partnerships with public and private partners in promoting our mission.

Retail Sales Outlets

Eastern National retail operates sales facilities for our partners. We manage all aspects of operating a sales outlet (e.g. hiring/training employees, purchasing, inventory, sales reporting, etc.). The products sold in our bookstores are a combination of Eastern National-produced items and items purchased from traditional vendors and are all approved by the park to ensure accuracy and appropriateness to the mission.

Sales generated from these national park stores allow us to make donations to the National Park Service. So, in addition to providing great visitor services, we also provide direct financial support.

Eastern National currently operates over 269 bookstores at more than 125 national parks and other public trusts.

Independent Publisher

Eastern National is also an independent publisher, who produces up to one hundred (100) new educational products each year. Our publications are different from the products developed by traditional publishers because we collaborate directly with the parks to produce educational material to fit specific needs within the park.

Eastern National publications are sold within other similarly themed Eastern National bookstores, as well as online to the general public. We also wholesale these products to other national parks with similar themes; schools; libraries; and other stores.

In addition to providing site-specific material to visitors, sales generated from Eastern National-produced publications contribute to our donation to the National Park Service.

Net proceeds from sales from Eastern National bookstores and www.eParks.com are donated to the National Park Service. Since our inception in 1947, Eastern National has donated over $83 million to the National Park Service.

Distinctions

1. The primary role of a cooperating association is to support the educational/interpretive mission of the National Park Service. We do this by producing or purchasing products that meet the educational standards of the National Park Service. We adhere to these standards by agreeing to only sell products that have been reviewed and approved by National Park Service interpreters and historians. Each product is appropriate in quality and context and is found to be historically, culturally and naturally accurate.
2. When we conduct business, the prevailing idea is to serve the National Park Service. Service is the key. As stewards of the national parks, our role is to help preserve and protect America's national parks. We manage all of the administrative functions associated with retail sales outlets, so our partners can devote their time and resources to managing the park. The net proceeds from our sales activities provide alternative forms of income to support educational and interpretive programs within those parks. Our contribution to the parks in the form of donations, are necessary to ensure that future generations can enjoy the natural and cultural wonders within America's national parks.
3. With every interaction we have with the public, the national park system is always the focus. We are working behind-the-scenes to support the National Park Service. While we are separate federally recognized entities, we share a common mission. Eastern National exists solely to support and serve the National Park Service. We rely on our operational expertise, diverse skill set and efficient use of technology to adapt to any need the National Park Service might have.