as one of the United States first national parks. (7) Four hundred people attended this hearing and 42 people, including Henry Cowles, spoke in favor of the park proposal. There were no opponents. However, plans for a Sand Dunes National Park were delayed because the United States entered World War I and national focus shifted away from national parks to national defense. (8) Local conservation efforts to preserve the Indiana Dunes persisted after World War I and culminated in the establishment of the Indiana Dunes State Park in 1925 and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966, established by Public Law 89–761 . (9) The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was subsequently expanded in 1976, 1980, 1986, and 1992. (10) The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the adjacent Indiana Dunes State Park are comprised of over 15,000 acres of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests that are currently preserved for public enjoyment. This includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, spanning the distance from Gary, Indiana, to Michigan City, Indiana. (11) The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most biologically diverse National Park Service units, containing 2,336 unique species, including 896 animal species and 1,407 plant species. (12) The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a cherished cultural landmark, attracting millions of visitors each year. (13) The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is an especially important feeding and resting area for migrating land and water birds, boasting 350 unique species. (14) Institutions such as the Dunes Learning Center attract youth and other community members to the Lakeshore and provide them with insight on the biodiversity and historical significance of the Indiana Dunes. 3. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore retitled as Indiana Dunes National Park (a) In general Public Law 89–761 ( 16 U.S.C. 460u et seq.) is amended— (1) by striking National Lakeshore each place it appears and inserting National Park