Selling Toys at National Parks and Monuments

National parks were such a common vacation choice in 2021 that many saw record attendance, especially from families with children. That translated into huge crowds at the gift shops — and booming sales of playthings for the youngest Americans.

At the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Park Ranger Denise DeLucia puts toys, books and puzzles on the bottom shelf, “where the little ones can grab ‘em,” she said. DeLucia, who manages the park’s gift shop, noted that anything whale related in the $10 range was a hit. “Children’s board books are among our most popular items; they’re a quick read at really good price points,” DeLucia noted. At the tiny store, which has about 100 square feet of retail space,

$10 also buys a mini whale puzzle, a constructor kit to make a whale from blocks, or a plush whale.

Many park gift shops, like the one at the Fort Davis (Texas) National Historic Site, occupy small spaces inside a Visitor Center. So Store Managers like Patricia Hartnett , who oversees the Fort Davis gift shop, go for maximum visibility. With less than 100 square feet of retail space, “we make sure everything is within reach of the kids, whether it’s in the corner or along

Continued on page 128