Photo of the Day

A brown bear peers into the window of a car with a young boy and another person inside.

June 5, 2026 | Close-Up Cub

A brown bear peers into the window of a stopped car in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. The image was featured in a July 1966 National Geographic story describing the progress of Mission 66, a government effort launched in 1956 to revitalize the country's national parks after decades of increased visitation but poor maintenance. The $1 billion project concluded in 1966—a nod to its name—coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the National Park Service. The efforts of Mission 66 have had a longstanding effect on U.S. National Park infrastructure, which continues to serve millions of visitors each year.
Dean Conger, National Geographic Image Collection