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Centennial Celebrations of the U.S. National Park Service in 2016: Commemorative
Gold, Silver and Clad Coins being issued by the US Mint in 2016:
The
Historical evolution of the National Park Service (NPS) & its
Responsibilities:
On 25.08.1916, legislation
was passed by the US Congress creating the National
Park Service (NPS) through the National
Park Service Organic Act. The NPS is an Agency of the US Federal
Government, which manages all US National Parks, National Monuments and other
conservation and historical properties of the USA. The NPS is responsible for
preserving the ecological and historical integrity of these places and to make
them available and accessible for public recreation and holidaying. Prior to
25.08.1916, National Parks and Monuments were managed under the overall supervision
of the Department of the Interior.
The task of the NPS is
enormous spread over 409 Units (including 59 National Parks, 80 National Monuments
– 29 National Monuments are administered by 5 other Federal Agencies – and
other properties like – 19 National Preserves, 90 National Historic
sites, 18 National recreational areas,
10 National Seashores, 4 National Lakeshores, 5 National Rivers, National Parkways, 10 National Wild and Scenic
Rivers, National Trail systems, the National Mall and National Capital Parks, Wilderness
areas, Maritime Protected Areas etc.).
The
Mission of the National Park Service (NPS):
The National Park Service
(NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the
National Park system for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and
future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the
benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation
throughout the USA and the World.
The
Official Emblem of the National Park Service (since 1951):
An image of the Logo of the National Park Service
The National Park Service
(NPS) has adopted the “Arrowhead” as their official emblem since 1951.
The components of the Arrowhead have been inspired by key
attributes of the National Park System:
- The sequoia tree
and bison represent vegetation and wildlife
- The mountains and
water represent scenic and recreational values
- The Arrowhead itself
represents historical and archaeological values.
The
focus of the National Park Service:
Since 1916, the
National Park service has been managing the National Parks of the USA, with the
active assistance of park partners. The NPS has engages 24000 employees and 225,000
volunteers who work for around 6.5 million hours every year.
Many indigenous tribes,
local governments, non-profit organisations, businesses and individual citizens
have drawn upon the resources of the National Park Service for revitalising
their communities and preserving local history, heritage and traditions.
Necessary funds are provided to local communities to preserve Natural and
Cultural resources. Among the programmes supported are the Rivers, Trails and
Conservation Assistance Programmes (RTCAP) that promote community links to
parks, natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation.
The NPS focuses on
creating recreational facilities in harmony with natural resources for families
to draw upon for having fun holidays and learn about their country’s natural
history.
The
Decade long preparations/Build up for the Centennial in August 2016:
The Centennial
celebrations were envisioned a decade earlier, in August 2006 in a conclave
held at the Devil’s Tower (the first National Monument to be declared as such),
when the National Park Centennial
initiative was launched to prepare National Parks for another century of
conservation, preservation and enjoyment. Since then, the NPS has gathered
information to prepare a database from several citizens, park partners, experts
and stake-holders on what they envisioned for a second century of National
Parks.
Several nation-wide
listening sessions got the NPS more than 6000 comments which have helped
preparation of five centennial goals which went into a report titled “The
Future of America’s National Parks”.
Every NPS staff member was
encouraged to read this report and take leads for local centennial strategies
to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016.
Kick-starting
the NPS Centennial Celebrations in 2016:
In keeping with this initiative
the NPS has kick-started the decade long preparations for the Centennial
celebrations and begun with an online programme/movement titled “Find your
Park” to inspire all the people to connect with and enjoy as well as support
America’s National Parks. I found the website quite useful, informative and
educational.
For the Centennial celebrations,
the National Park service and National Foundation are collaborating with their
partners and volunteers cross-country to encourage people everywhere to
explore, learn, be inspired or just have fun, as well as, understanding how the
National Park Service’s community-based recreation, conservation and historic
preservation programmes positively impact their own communities.
Some
interesting points:
About
National Parks:
- Yellowstone
National Park was the first National Park in America to be established – in
1872. The latest one is Pinnacles National Park established in 2013. The first
National monument to be declared as such was the Devil’s Tower which is a 264
metre column of volcanic rock near Sundance, Wyoming
- The
largest National Park is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in
Alaska covering over 8.3 million acres which is an area larger than each of the
nine smallest US States, while the smallest National Park property is Thaddeus
Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania
- Around
300 million people visit America’s National Parks every year.
- The
most visited National Park is the Golden Gate Recreation area in San Francisco.
The least visited National Park is the Arctic Circle based Kobuk Valley
National Park, because it is accessible only by walking, dogsled or snowmobile
Evolutionary
& Historical:
- At
Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, there are rocks which are half as old as
Planet Earth which tourists can see and touch
- More
than 1500 embedded fossils from the Jurassic Era are found in the Dinosaur
National Monument that crosses the Colorado-Utah border
- 15000
historic and pre-historic petroglyphs – Native American and Hispanic images
carved on rock – are spread over 17 miles near Albuquerque at Petroglyph
National Monument in New Mexico
- Yosemite
National Park boasts of some Giant sequoias which are over 2,000 years old,
while the Great Basin National park has some bristlecone pines which are still
older from around the time when the Pharaoh Tutankhamen ruled Egypt.
- 400
million years of mammalian evolution is preserved at the John Day Fossil Beds
National Monument in Oregon
- Most
of the Petrified Forest National Park’s petrified wood comes from tall conifers
which grew over 200 million years ago along the waterways in Arizona
- The
Olympic National Park showcases 15 animals and 8 plant species (like the
Olympic marmot and the crescent trout, owing to this area’s Ice Age isolation,
which are found nowhere else on the Globe.
- The
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota contains a mystifying labyrinth of
tunnels, of which only 132 miles have
been explored so far
- The
longest Cave system in the World is in the Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
and around 3,454 miles of which has been
mapped
- The
Russell Cave Monument in Alaska has a continuous record of human habitation
since 7000 BC
- The
10,000 geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park represent almost half
of such features anywhere. Nevertheless, the Park shelters around 8500 elks,
2000 bison and is home to cutthroat trout. Interestingly, dirty linen placed in
the geothermal craters comes out clean when the geyser “spits” them back up,
except that there is a chance of some woollens being ripped to shreds
- There
is a 5.5 metre long pterosaur skeleton in Big Bend National Park, Texas which
represents the largest known flying creature
- There
are 14 active volcanoes in Kalmai National Par in Alaska. Nevertheless, Alaska
has around 40,000 grizzly bears
- Glacier
National Park covered some 150 glaciers of which only about 25 remain. An
indication of what the global warming is bringing on today
- Rocky
Mountain National Park is dotted with over 150 lakes and 450 miles of streams
- Great
Basin National Park actually comprises around 90 basins or valleys and its
rivers all flow inland
- Bryce
Canyon National Park sprouts skinny, totem-shaped hoodoo rock formations, some
as tall as ten-storey buildings
- There
are two “Dark-Sky” Parks – Big Bend, Texas and Natural Bridges, Utah. Here one
can see far-away galaxies leagues away from the orange glow of electric light
- The
Everglades is the only sub-tropical preserve on the North American Continent
which has one of the largest stands of pine rock-land in the World
- Great
Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has the tallest dunes in North America,
which rise up to 750 feet.
- An
active volcano, Mount Rainier is also the most glaciated peak in the contiguous
USA
Trails & Drives:
- The
Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs for nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to
Maine and attracts nearly four million hikers and bicycle riders annually
- American
National Parks have around 18,000 miles of walkable trails
- The
Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile long asphalt track which connects the Great
Smoky Mountains (USA’s most visited National Park) and Shenandoah (one of the
least visited National Parks)
Some other interesting
points/features:
- Puget
Sound which is a part of the National Historical Park in Washington State
preserves the traditions of the earliest American pioneers
- National
Historical Park San Juan Island is one of the 1st Native prairies in the
Region.
- The
Saguaros cactus of Saguaro National Park, Arizona can live for around 150 years
- The
1790 eruption in Haleakala National Park on Maui left an unearthly landscape
perfect for astronauts training for the first moon landing
- The
six million acre Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska has North
America’s highest mountain – Mount Kinley which is around 6000 metres tall
- The
World’s most massive Doric column is located at Perry’s Victory and
International Peace Memorial in Ohio
- The
second and third largest Natural Bridges in the World are located in Natural
Bridges National Monument, Utah
- In
Sitka National Park in Alaska, the 2-mile shore trail is lined with replicas of
totem poles brought here in 1905
Commemorative
Coins:
The US Mint is issuing
Proof and Uncirculated versions of three distinct issues to commemorate the
Centenary of the U.S. National Park Service which will be as follows:
The coins will be in the denominations
of a $5 (five dollar) for the gold coin, one dollar for the silver piece and a
clad half-dollar coin.
The
Gold Coins ($5):
The above are Obverse and
Reverse images of the $5 Gold Uncirculated 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Coin
The above are Obverse and
Reverse images of the $5 Gold Proof 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Coin
The Obverses of the above two
gold coins depict portraits of John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt (both
facing left) together with Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome in the
background. Inscriptions on this face of the coin read “LIBERTY” (on the upper
periphery) and “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the lower periphery. Below the portraits of
Muir and Roosevelt is mentioned the year of issue “2016”.
The Reverses of the above two
gold coins bear the NPS logo in the centre. Inscriptions on this face
along the outer periphery clockwise from the top are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
and “E.PLURIBUS UNUM” (meaning “One out of many”). The denomination of the coin
$5 and the issuing mint “W” (West Point) Mint are also mentioned.
The designs of both faces
has been created and sculpted by Don Everhart whose initials “DE” appear below
Roosevelt’s neckline.
The
Silver Coins ($1):
The above are Obverse and
Reverse images of the $1 Silver Uncirculated 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Coin issued by the Philadelphia Mint represented by the Philadelphia Mint Mark "P".
The above are Obverse and Reverse images of the $1 Silver Proof 2016 National Park Service (NPS) Coin issued by the Philadelphia Mint represented by the Philadelphia Mint Mark "P".
The Obverses of the above two
silver coins depict “Old Faithful Geyser” located in Yellowstone
National Park, Wyoming. In the foreground is a solitary bison. Both the Old Faithful
Geyser and the Bisons of Yellowstone National Park are icons in themselves and
are popular the World over. The inscription on the top periphery is “LIBERTY”
and on the bottom periphery is “NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CENTENNIAL”. Towards the
centre left is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” and towards the centre right are the
Centennial years “1916 – 2016”.
The Reverses of the above two
silver coins depict the National Park Service (NPS) logo placed in the
foreground, with a “Folklorico”
dancer in the background. The Inscriptions on the upper periphery read “UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA” and “E.PLURIBUS UNUM”. On the dancer’s sash is the
inscription “HERITAGE, CULTURE, PRIDE”.
The Obverse design has
been created and sculpted by Joseph Menna whose initials “JM” appear on the
Obverse face just below the field, while the Reverse face has been designed by
Chris Costello and sculpted by Jim Licaretz. Their initials “CC” and “JL”
appear on the dancer’s dress towards the lower portion.
Old Faithful Geyser and a
Bison have also featured together in America the Beautiful Quarters Programme
in the year . An image of the Quarter
depicting the two icons in my collection is given below:
An image of the America
the Beautiful Quarters coin depicting Old Faithful and the Bison issued in 2010
The
Clad Coins ($½):
The above are Obverse and
Reverse images of the Clad Uncirculated Half Dollar 2016 National Park Service
(NPS) Coin. The Mint Mark of the Denver Mint ("D") is seen to the right of the Arrowhead
The above are Obverse and
Reverse images of the Clad Proof Half Dollar 2016 National Park Service
(NPS) Coin
The Obverses of the above two
clad half dollar coins depict a hiker exploring the wilderness and a
child peeking through ferns at a small frog. The inscriptions on this face are
“NATIONAL PARK SERVICE” (across a band towards the center). In the lower half
of this face are the Centennial years “1996 – 2016)”, “IN GOD WE TRUST” and
“LIBERTY”.
The Reverses of the above
two clad half dollar
The Obverse design has
been made by Barbara Fox and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso. Their initials “BF”
and “MG” appear on the obverse face to the left and right of the ferns.
The Reverses of the above two
clad half dollar coins depict the NPS logo, with the inscriptions
“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” (meaning “One out of many”) on the upper
periphery and “STEWARDSHIP, HALF DOLLAR, RECREATION” on the lower Periphery.
The Reverse design has
been made by Thomas Hipschen and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. Their initials
“”TH” and “CLP” appear to the left and right of the NPS logo.
Links:
1) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2010 (the start of the Programme)
2) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2011
3) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2012
4) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2013
5) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2014
6) State Commemorative Quarters
7) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2015
8) The Great Seal of the USA & prominent mottoes
9) Native American Dollar Coin Programme
10) American Eagle Gold Coins
11) American Buffalo Gold Coins
12) Susan Anthony Dollar
13) US Bicentennial Coins
14) Westward Journey Nickel Series
15) Commemorating 225 Years of US Marshals Serivce
16) Forever Stamps : US Civil War 1861-65
17) The New US $100 Bill
18) The Strange Case of my becoming a US Citizen without even applying for it , thanks to the US Mint
19) Centennial Celebrations of the establishment of the US National Park Service (NPS) in 2016
Links:
1) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2010 (the start of the Programme)
2) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2011
3) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2012
4) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2013
5) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2014
6) State Commemorative Quarters
7) America the Beautiful Quarters - 2015
8) The Great Seal of the USA & prominent mottoes
9) Native American Dollar Coin Programme
10) American Eagle Gold Coins
11) American Buffalo Gold Coins
12) Susan Anthony Dollar
13) US Bicentennial Coins
14) Westward Journey Nickel Series
15) Commemorating 225 Years of US Marshals Serivce
16) Forever Stamps : US Civil War 1861-65
17) The New US $100 Bill
18) The Strange Case of my becoming a US Citizen without even applying for it , thanks to the US Mint
19) Centennial Celebrations of the establishment of the US National Park Service (NPS) in 2016
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