Lying as it does immediately adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, the two parks separated only by the thickness of an imaginary boundary line, Glacier National Park cannot be separated geographically from its neighboring recreational area. The two parks are almost identical in significance and were set aside with the same purpose in mind. This unity between the two areas gives both of them an international character that was first recognized by United States Senator Penrose in 1910 when, during the debates on the bill to establish Glacier National Park, he stated, "This park will be international in character." Recognizing this fact, and wishing to commemorate the friendly relations that existed between the people of the United States and Canada, the combined Rotary Clubs of Montana and Alberta, meeting at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Park on July 4, 1931, passed a resolution starting the movement for establishment of what was to be known as the "Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park." This was a non-administrative union, aimed at bringing into closer relationships the two parks and their respective nations. Vigorous action was taken by representatives of Rotary International in both countries, and as a result a bill was introduced into the United States Congress in 1932 by Congressman Scott Leavitt of Montana, to establish this joint park. The bill was passed by both houses and was signed by President Herbert Hoover on December 8, 1932. Similar action was taken in the Canadian Parliament, led by Premier Brounler, Brigadier General Steward, and Mr. Lethbridge, making the joint park a reality. In 1932 the United States and Canadian governments recognizing the significance of two national parks joining on international borders designated the parks as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Both parks are Biosphere Reserves, and were named together as a World Heritage Site in 1995, thus recognizing the importance of the area not only to the United States and Canada, but to the entire world.  

Credits and Sources:

Land of Many Stories: The People and History of Glacier National Park, National Park Service, Montana Hisotrical Society, Glacier Naitonal Park Fund, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation, http://www.nps.gov/features/glac/LMSeTour/centennial_eTour.html, Accessed June 10, 2015.

Donald H. Robinson, Through the Years in Glacier National Park: an Administrative History,Glacier Natural History Association, Inc. In cooperation with the National Park Service, May 1960.