During the month of April, the United States Postal Service announced a new set of National Park Service Centennial Stamps that will be issued in 2016. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the park system, 16 different parks will be featured on Forever stamps circulated nationwide. The featured parks include images from Mount Rainer National Park in Washington, Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida, and Haleakala National Park in Hawaii.
The stamp pane was designed by USPS Art Director Ethel Kessler, from Bethesda, Maryland. The collectors sheet features a tan stamp pane and 16 stamps surrounding the image of a 1¢ Yosemite postage stamp issued in 1934. The center text reads: “Our national parks tell distinctly American stories. Whether they inspire you to marvel at grand vistas, travel along scenic waterways and winding paths, or visit historic buildings and homes, discovery and exploration await.”
Each stamp image selected is an iconic photograph, painting, or artwork of the plants, animals, objects, or structures found in the park.
National Park Service Centennial Stamps Release
Even more exciting for Park Chasers is the celebration plans for the National Park Service centennial stamps release. The set is scheduled to be released on June 2, 2016 at 11 a.m. during a special “first-day-of-issue” ceremony at the World Stamp Show NY-2016 in New York City. The show is held once every 10 years and brings stamp enthusiasts from around the globe together for collecting, swapping, and stamp education. Admission to the World Stamp Show NY-2016 is free, however participants are asked to pre-register online.
For visitors who live closer to one of the 16 parks featured in the stamp set, the National Park Service will also be hosting special “first-day-of-issue” ceremonies on location in June. While dates and times for these events have not been announced, visitor’s are encouraged to check in with rangers about how the stamp release will be celebrated in their closest park.
For more information and to see each stamp image click on the park links below:
Assateague Island National Seashore
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
