Union Pacific Railroad

As a premier partner of Youth Engagement and Education and the largest private sponsor of Open OutDoors for Kids, Union Pacific is proud to encourage young adventurers to explore America’s national parks. For nearly 160 years, Union Pacific trains have traversed the beautiful scenery of our nation's western states, delivering the goods Americans use every day.

Union Pacific's history with the national parks started with creating iconic western parks like Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon and Death Valley, when the railroad allowed travelers to experience the wonderment of the new national parks, working hand-in-hand to develop the infrastructure that park visitors still treasure. Today, while Union Pacific trains no longer carry passengers to national parks, the railroad remains committed to sharing the wonders of our nation with the next generation through its partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF). The railroad's support provides national park experiences for thousands of students across the 23 states where Union Pacific operates.

The Backstory

Union Pacific’s support of NPF has been decades in the making. When the National Park Service (NPS) was created, Union Pacific provided access to these landscapes by developing park infrastructure that visitors still use and enjoy today at parks. NPF’s ability to serve as a national organization that works across the National Park System has helped Union Pacific engage the very communities where the railroad operates.

The multi-year partnership between Union Pacific and NPF has focused on the core goals of access, education, and outreach and engagement. Together, NPF and Union Pacific are ensuring that everyone has access to special places in the community that celebrate cultural diversity and the natural environment.

Partnership Impact

With Union Pacific’s success linked to the economic prosperity and wellbeing of the cities and towns in which it operates, Union Pacific and NPF focused their partnership on strengthening and scaling NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program to contribute back to the communities where the railroad operates. As the largest private sponsor of Open OutDoors for Kids since 2018, Union Pacific has helped create pathways for nearly 373,000 kids within its communities to enjoy, understand and connect with nature through outdoor activity, experiential learning, and cultural heritage exercises. Through its long-term support extending through 2024, Union Pacific will independently build an entirely new generation of park explorers.

Union Pacific’s support to NPF also includes the release of the Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer booklet and a $1 million contribution to the establishment of Pullman National Monument.