The administration was established in 1934 by the federal law Nº 12 103/34 as the National Parks Department, together with creating Argentina's second national park, Iguazú. The first one, Del Sur, now known as Nahuel Huapi, preceded the department's creation by 12 years.
^"Historia Institucional" (in Spanish). Administración de Parques Nacionales. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2017.