Eastern National

What Eastern National does

Eastern National is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cooperating association founded in 1947 and headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. It is the largest multi-region cooperating association of the National Park Service, operating under a cooperating agreement signed by the NPS Director, and supports the NPS, US Forest Service, Tennessee State Parks, and other public lands partners. Since 1947 the organization has contributed more than $180 million to educational programs and initiatives, including $3.1 million in FY25 aid to parks and $7.4 million in cumulative aid since resuming distributions in spring 2022. All revenue is generated through earned operations—retail, e-commerce, and wholesale—and is reinvested into park support rather than distributed to owners. The organization employs 101-250 staff and runs a multi-brand family that includes the nearly 170-location America's National Parks™ retail brand, the Passport To Your National Parks® guidebook and collectibles program (operating since 1986), and adjacent sub-brands such as Outer Banks Forever, Jamestown Glasshouse, Waite & Peirce, and Highland Lighthouse.

Name

Eastern National

Legal name

Eastern National

Website

https://easternnational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Eastern National is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cooperating association, founded in 1947, that operates nearly 170 retail stores at U.S. National Park Service sites and the Passport To Your National Parks® guidebook program, generating earned revenue that funds educational programs for America's national parks and public lands partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Educational Retail and Park Services

NAICS

General Merchandise Retailers (455)

SIC

Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399), Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)

akta.pro primary industry

Park Concession Operations (Food, Retail, Fuel, General Stores) (THAAAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Adventure Multi-Category Retail (CRAMABAB), Outdoor & Sporting Goods-Focused Catalog Department Store Retailers (CRAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Cooperating association
• National park retail
• Educational publishing
• Interpretive services
• Park merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Park Store Retail Sales: Operating retail stores at nearly 170 NPS locations generating earned revenue. All revenue supports national park and public lands partners.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online sales through ShopANP.org, the America's National Parks Online Store carrying curated selections from national parks across the country.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of publications and merchandise to other cooperating associations and park partners.
4. Checkout Counter Donations: Donation program where customers can add $1, $3, $5, or $10 donations to Eastern National at checkout.
5. Grant Funding: Outer Banks Forever received grants from National Park Foundation including $50,000 Capacity Building Grant, $75,000 Partner Housing Catalyst Grant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eastern National operates retail stores at nearly 170 National Park Service locations selling educational merchandise, publications, and Passport To Your National Parks® guidebooks. It runs the e-commerce site ShopANP.org, the Arrowhead Store for NPS staff, wholesale distribution to other cooperating associations, and provides interpretive services and educational publishing for national parks and public lands partners. All revenue supports educational programs at these parks.

Product overview

Eastern National is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cooperating association that operates as a multi-brand retail and educational services organization supporting America's national parks and public lands. The company offers a portfolio of products and services centered around its core retail operations and educational publishing mission. The main products include: America's National Parks™ (the primary retail brand operating nearly 170 park stores plus an ecommerce site), Passport To Your National Parks® (the signature guidebook and collectibles program since 1986), and several sub-brands including Outer Banks Forever (philanthropy), Jamestown Glasshouse (glassblowing experience), Waite & Peirce (maritime-themed store), Highland Lighthouse (tours), and the Arrowhead Store (NPS partner merchandise). The product portfolio also includes annual Passport collectibles (stamp sets, calendars, scrapbook kits) and various park store operations. All revenue generated supports national park and public lands partners through interpretive programs, educational initiatives, and direct aid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• America's National Parks: The largest retail brand operated by Eastern National, with park stores at nearly 170 National Park Service locations and an online ecommerce store (ShopANP.org).
• Passport To Your National Parks
• Outer Banks Forever
• Jamestown Glasshouse
• Waite & Peirce
• Highland Lighthouse
• The Arrowhead Store

Products and services

• America's National Parks™ Retail Stores Retail stores at nearly 170 NPS locations selling educational merchandise, books, apparel, and souvenirs to national park visitors under the America's National Parks brand.
• Passport To Your National Parks® Program Signature guidebook and collectible program launched in 1986 where visitors collect cancellation ink stamps and stickers at national parks. Includes annual stamp sets, wall calendars, and scrapbook kits.
• Outer Banks Forever Official philanthropic partner of the Outer Banks national parks (Cape Hatteras NS, Fort Raleigh NHS, Wright Brothers NM), supporting public engagement, programming, and project support initiatives such as Adopt-A-Sea-Turtle-Nest.
• Jamestown Glasshouse World-famous glassblowing operation at Colonial National Historical Park offering daily public demonstrations of colonial-style glassblowing, with one-of-a-kind pieces available for sale.
• Waite & Peirce Park Store Park Store and Information Center at Salem Maritime National Historic Site featuring gifts inspired by Salem's privateers and maritime history.
• Highland Lighthouse Tours Educational tours and climbs of Highland Lighthouse at Cape Cod National Seashore, including the Keeper's Shop offering lighthouse-related merchandise.
• Arrowhead Store Exclusive e-commerce store for NPS staff, VIPs, cooperating association staff, and Friends Group staff to purchase Arrowhead-branded gear, apparel, and merchandise.
• Annual Passport Stamp Sets Annual collectible stamp sets featuring national park sites, with stickers containing photographs and interpretive summaries celebrating locations' beauty, history, and character.
• ShopANP.org E-commerce America's National Parks Online Store with curated product selections from national parks across the country, including Passport merchandise and educational products.
• Wholesale Distribution Wholesale distribution of publications and merchandise to other cooperating associations and park partners.
• Educational Publishing Development of educational products, publications, and interpretive materials that support park interpretation and visitor education across national parks.
• Interpretive Services Services supporting interpretive programs and activities at government land management agencies including the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and other public lands partners.
• America250™ Merchandise Line Licensed product line commemorating America's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including ribbon stickers, pop art decals, and handcrafted ceramic mugs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $180 million contributed to educational programs since 1947
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Outer Banks Visitors BureauminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025Partnership for webcam installation at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and virtual sea turtle nest excavation programs.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern National is the largest multi-region cooperating association with cooperating agreement signed by the Director of NPS. Supports interpretive programs and activities at NPS locations through retail operations, educational products, and grants.
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating association partner supporting interpretive programs and activities at US Forest Service locations.
• Bass Pro ShopsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsor of Oregon Inlet Kayak Launch project at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
• Ocean Atlantic RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsor of Oregon Inlet Kayak Launch project at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
• TowneBankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsor of Oregon Inlet Kayak Launch project at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
• Dare County Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Artist in Community residency program at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
• National Aviation Heritage AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Wright Route virtual and in-person learning experience connecting Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP and Wright Brothers National Memorial.
• First Flight SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Wright Route connecting Wright brothers' history between Ohio and North Carolina parks.
• Department of Defense SkillBridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram connecting transitioning service members with civilian work experience during last six months of active duty.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Public Lands Alliance: Trade association for cooperating associations and friends groups operating in national parks and other public lands. Sets industry standards, runs the Innovative Product of the Year award that EN's Passport Scrapbook Kit won, and is a natural ecosystem peer.

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op: Large outdoor and adventure multi-category retailer with a strong e-commerce storefront. Competes with ShopANP.org and EN park stores for outdoor/adventure enthusiast purchases and gifting.
• National Park Foundation: Official national nonprofit partner of the National Park Service; not a single-park retailer but a system-wide funder. Comparable in mission and relationship to NPS, and a direct grant funder of Eastern National-affiliated entities like Outer Banks Forever.

Direct peers

• Mesa Verde Museum Association: NPS cooperating association for Mesa Verde National Park selling educational merchandise and operating interpretive retail. Direct peer in the museum/cooperating-association retail model, and mentioned in EN board member background.
• Mount Rainier National Park Conservancy: Cooperating association for Mount Rainier National Park supporting education, preservation, and visitor services. Compares to Eastern National's mission and revenue mix of earned retail income reinvested in park programs.
• Smokies Life (Great Smoky Mountains Association): Another NPS cooperating association operating retail and publishing for a major national park (Great Smoky Mountains). Same mission, same retail-concession model, and EN's board includes Smokies Life's retired CEO — directly comparable in structure and revenue model.
• Yosemite Conservancy: Nonprofit partner of Yosemite National Park providing retail, publishing, and philanthropy. Compares to Eastern National on retail concession operations, educational publishing, and park-aid distribution model.
• Glacier National Park Conservancy: Nonprofit partner of Glacier National Park operating park stores and fundraising. Directly comparable single-park cooperating association with the same retail-and-philanthropy model as Eastern National.
• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park operating park stores, publishing, and educational programs. Operates the Yellowstone Park Store and the same retail-concession-plus-education model as Eastern National.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, operating retail, publishing, and philanthropy. Direct peer to Eastern National in the NPS cooperating-association model with a similar portfolio of stores, education, and donor programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastern-national
• Xx.com/EasternNational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eastern National