“Wilderness Forever”

The National Museum of Natural History is celebrating 50 years of wilderness in a pretty awesome way: “Wilderness Forever” photography exhibit.

The Wilderness Act was signed into law in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Today, more than 100 million acres are protected by the National Wilderness Preservation System to ensure these areas remain ecologically sound and environmentally pristine for future generations.

Photographs for the exhibit were selected from more than 5,000 public entries. There’s a Grand Prize and 12 winners in four categories: Most Inspirational Moment, People in Wilderness, Scenic Landscapes, and Wildlife. Each category has an Amateur, Pro, and Student winner.

The exhibit opened this month and will run through summer 2015 – so check it out if you’re in (or planning a trip to) Washington, D.C.!

If you’re not in D.C., you can use this interactive map to see the photos and where they were taken.