BADLANDS
History of Badlands National Monument
and The White River (Big) Badlands of South Dakota
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APPENDIX A
ANNUAL NUMBER OF VISITS TO BADLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT [273]

Year Total Visits Percent increase
or decrease
over previous year

1938*175,000
1939205,10017.2
1940190,243-7.2
1941252,87832.9
194287,231-65.5
194310,149-88.4
194410,3492.0
194531,377203.2
1946230,403634.3
1947339,84347.5
1948384,13313.0
1949373,076-2.9
1950447,65420.0
1951607,96535.8
1952580,902-4.5
1953658,69113.4
1954664,9971.0
1955630,881-5.1
1956663,2465.1
1957701,0945.7
1958810,83715.7
1959825,1841.8
1960878,6256.5
1961833,279-5.2
19621,044,76825.4
19631,073,9712.8
19641,079,8370.5
19651,091,2611.1
19661,094,7540.3
19671,188,6668.6

Average annual increase in number of visits in the last 15 years has been about 5%.

In September 1954, 15-1/2 years after the national monument was established, the five millionth visit was recorded. A total of ten million visits was attained just seven years later in July 1961. On August 16, 1966, Superintendent Frank A. Hjort officially welcomed a traveler and his family who represented the 15 millionth visit to Badlands National Monument. At the present rate of travel increase, the 20 millionth visit is expected in 1970. As of December 31, 1967, the total number of visits to the national monument since its establishment in 1939 is 16,991,394.

The NPS travel year has been the same as a regular calendar year since January 1, 1953. Before that date, the NPS travel year was from October through September. However, total visits prior to 1953 have been recalculated to show actual calendar year totals.

*The figures for 1938 have not been used to calculate total visitation to the national monument since the year is before the area was officially established.



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history/appa.htm
Last Updated: 02-Nov-2009