What are you finding in national park gift shops by country of origin?/NPS file

As you visit national parks this summer, we'd be interested in learning what you're finding in national park gift shops when it comes to country of origin.

The Traveler  has covered this subject in the past. Readers have contrasting opinions about requiring American-made goods in national parks. Some view it as impractical, believeing that the price increase alone might, potentially, have visitors leaving gift shops empty-handed, leading to less employment in parks, and an unstable financial future. Others thought it would be difficult to accomplish, yet they favored a slow, but concerted, incorporation of American-made goods over time.

A decade ago we found that a majority of the items are made in America, with fewer and fewer bearing an oval gold-and-black 'Made in China' sticker on them. That's because national park concessionaires were continuously making efforts to focus on bringing more made-in-America products into their gift shops.  

But where do things stand today? Has the pendulum swung the other say?

There have been efforts in Congress to require more gift shop items in the parks to have been made in America.

In 2013 then-Congressman Steve Israel, D-New York, said actively seeking out American-made commodities was of utmost importance to the health of the American manufacturing industry. In June of that year he sponsored his '"American Parks, American Products Act," which would require national parks to sell merchandise strictly made in America. 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, introduced the legislation in her chamber, saying "This is common sense legislation to ensure products sold at America's National Parks are made by our manufacturers and small businesses, proudly stamped with the words 'Made in America.' The celebration of our National Parks goes hand in hand with the pride of American-made products and our strong manufacturing tradition. The 'American Parks, American Products Act' has the potential to support manufacturing jobs, and showcase American craftsmanship."

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, also supported the legislation, saying "“America’s national parks, like Glacier and Yellowstone, highlight our nation’s history, heritage and natural beauty, and it just makes sense to see that these treasured places showcase America’s craftsmanship too.  We need to do more to encourage more manufacturing and small business growth here in America – not in China – and this bill is a good step.”

The National Park Service encourages concessionaires to carry American-made items.

In 2021 the agency said that it has "supported the sale of American-made products in its concession retail shops for many years. All new concession contracts have specific language encouraging the sale of these items, and concessioner evaluations include a review of concessioner performance against these goals. Federal regulations provide concessioners financial incentives to sell authentic native handicrafts. Bids for retail services often include questions regarding how prospective offerors will promote the sale of these items. The NPS reinforced this position in a policy statement to the field indicating that to contribute to our nation’s economy the NPS should continue to encourage the sale of American-made products in concession stores."

At the same time, the Park Service notes that while "concessioners strive to stock American-made merchandise, they face challenges finding American-made products at price points amenable to visitors. In some cases, products that park visitors want are simply no longer manufactured domestically."

So, that said, what are you finding in the gift shops?