Great Basin National Park Foundation

CELEBRATING 40 Years of Service to Great Basin National Park 

The Great Basin National Park Foundation passionately works to enhance, preserve, and interpret the
starry night skies, wide-open scenery, cultural heritage, and diverse native ecosystems of Great Basin National Park.

Engaging. Protecting. Connecting, The Foundation is the official non-profit partner of Great Basin National Park.

Email Great Basin National Park Foundation Here.

Twelve years after Great Basin National Park was founded, Great Basin National Park Foundation was established by Bonnie Bryan, Nevada's First Lady and wife of Governor Richard Bryan. Great Basin National Park Foundation’s mission was, and continues to be, to support the Park as an institution and treasure of the region so that future generations will enjoy its wonders.

Since 1998, the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has raised over three million dollars to help Great Basin National Park. Our mission is to enhance, preserve, and interpret the starry night skies, wide-open scenery, cultural heritage and diverse native ecosystems of Great Basin National Park.

The Foundation's projects include: construction of a new Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada; maintenance of and increased access to park trails; preservation of the cultural heritage of the Great Basin through an oral history project; and expansion of the Park's astronomy programs, which eventually led to the most ambitious venture to date—the planning, building, and oversight of the Great Basin Observatory (GBO). As the first research grade astronomical observatory ever built in a U.S National Park, the GBO is a robotic, remote-internet accessed telescope that allows researchers and students worldwide to access the most outstanding night sky conditions in the lower 48 states.

The Foundation, through its donors, provides needed funds to enhance the mission of Great Basin National Park.

FOR 2026

Great Basin National Park Foundation Launches Virtual Speaker Series in Celebration of Great Basin National Park’s 40th Anniversary

In 2026, Great Basin National Park marks its 40th anniversary—four decades defined by scientific discovery, dedicated stewardship, and the enduring passion of the communities and individuals who have shaped the Park’s legacy. To honor this milestone and expand access to the stories that make Great Basin National Park exceptional, Great Basin National Park Foundation, the Park’s nonprofit partner, is launching a free monthly Virtual Speaker Series.

Designed for longtime Park enthusiasts as well as those discovering Great Basin National Park for the first time, the series will offer engaging opportunities to explore the Park through fresh perspectives. Each program will feature distinguished voices—from scientists and artists to writers and former Park leaders—who will help illuminate the cultural, ecological, and historical significance of this remote and inspiring landscape.

The Virtual Speaker Series launches this month on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. Pacific with Superintendent Stories, featuring three former Great Basin National Park superintendents reflecting on decades of leadership, conservation, and growth at the Park.

Next, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. Pacific, The Park / Art Connection will bring together four former Artists-in-Residence to discuss how art and creativity deepen public connection to national parks.

On March 24 you can learn about Packrat Middens: Uncovering Thousands of Years of Biotic Change in the Great Basin. In this program Dr. Ally Coconis of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, will explore how preserved packrat nests reveal long-term climate and ecological history.

And on Tuesday, April 21, writer Michael Branch will showcase Water Warriors, stories from his forthcoming book about western water conflicts and the grassroots efforts that helped protect water resources vital to the Great Basin region.

Monthly programs will continue through October, the anniversary of the Park’s designation.

All programs are free and open to the public, with advance registration required. You can find registration links for programs on Great Basin National Park Foundation’s website, greatbasinfoundation.org/news/40anniversary. More programs will be advertised as they become finalized.

As Great Basin National Park enters its fifth decade, the Virtual Speaker Series invites audiences everywhere to celebrate the Park’s past, engage with its present, and help shape its future.