Mt. Hood National Forest featured on final 2010 National Park Quarter issue

May 7, 2010 – 1:34 pm
Mount Hood, Oregon

Mount Hood, Oregon

The final first-year issue of the 2010-2021 National Park Quarter series honors Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. Containing one of the largest areas of untouched wilderness in the United States, this popular recreational region was established as a federally protected site in 1893.

Located just 20 miles east of Portland, Oregon, Mount Hood National Forest extends south from the beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than 60 miles of forests, mountains, lakes and streams. Encompassing over a million acres, the site is popular for camping, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, fishing and hunting.

Highlights of the national forest include Mount Hood, the highest peak in Oregon, which features 12 glaciers – and portions of the Old Oregon Trail, including the steep and challenging Barlow Trail.

More information on Mount Hood National Forest.

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Yosemite Quarter Design Finalized

May 5, 2010 – 2:03 pm
Yosemite National Park Quarter

Yosemite National Park Quarter

The final approved design for the third National Park quarter was announced on March 24, 2010 at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The reverse of the third 2010 quarter honors Yosemite National Park in California. It features the 3,000-foot El Capitan, a sheer granite face created by glaciers millions of years ago. Located in the Yosemite Valley, El Capitan was named by the Mariposa Battalion that explored the valley in 1851.
The inscriptions on the coin’s reverse include the name of the site: YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA, the year of issue: 2010 and the motto: E PLURIBUS UNUM.

This handsome quarter is a perfect match for the 2005 Statehood quarter, which also features Yosemite. As 3rd in this year’s set, the Yosemite quarter will be followed by the Grand Canyon and Mount Hood issues.

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Yosemite National Park a World Heritage Site & featured on the 3rd National Park quarter

May 5, 2010 – 1:55 pm
Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite National Park, covering 747,956 acres in California, became a national park in 1890, and in 1984 received Unesco’s World Heritage designation bestowed on sites of outstanding significance to humanity. Now, this spectacular park will be featured on the third issue in America’s 2010-2021 National Park quarter series.

In 1864, President Lincoln signed a bill creating the Yosemite Grant (now part of the park). The grant set aside the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Tree Grove (a grove of Giant Sequoia Trees) for the public. The Giant Sequoias are among the world’s tallest living things, and Grizzly Giant, found in the Mariposa Grove, is believed to be between 1,800-2,700 years old, dating back at least to ancient Rome.

Thanks to the efforts of John Muir, who helped draw up the park’s proposed boundaries, Congress set aside much of what is now the park over a century ago. In 1906, influenced by an earlier camping trip with Muir, President Teddy Roosevelt expanded and unified the park, removing it from the state’s control and placing it under federal authority. Yosemite offers visitors distinctive geography created by glaciers, 5 of the world’s highest waterfalls and many hiking and camping opportunities.

More information on Yosemite National Park.

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Yellowstone Quarter Design Finalized

April 28, 2010 – 11:10 am
Yellowstone National Park Quarter

Yellowstone National Park Quarter

The final approved design for the 2nd National Park quarter was selected from several candidate designs and announced at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2010.

The reverse of the second new 2010 quarter, honoring Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, depicts the famous Old Faithful geyser with a bison in the foreground. The design is representative of the unique features of this prominent national park, which contains over 300 geysers and is home to the largest bison population residing on public lands.

Inscriptions on the reverse of the quarter include the name of the park (YELLOWSTONE), the host state (WYOMING), date of issue (2010), and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The obverse side features a smaller restored version of the George Washington portrait introduced on U.S. quarters in 1932.

The Yellowstone quarter follows the first 2010 National Park Quarter issue honoring Hot Springs National Park, and precedes three additional 2010 designs commemorating Yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks, as well as Mount Hood National Forest.

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Yellowstone National Park featured 2nd in National Park Quarter series

April 28, 2010 – 11:08 am
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, primarily in Wyoming with small portions in Idaho and Montana, was established as a national park in 1872. The largest park in the lower 48 states, it contains over half the world’s geothermal features including geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots. The most famous of Yellowstone’s over 300 geysers is Old Faithful, which erupts on average every 91 minutes.

Also within the national park are several mountain ranges, the largest high-altitude lake in North America, approximately 290 waterfalls, and one of the world’s largest petrified forests. The park is home to a great variety of wildlife including bison, grizzly bears, moose, elk, gray wolves, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles.

Yellowstone offers more than 950 miles of backcountry and mountain trails, 12 campgrounds, 9 hotels and lodges, and 9 different visitor centers and museums.

More information on Yellowstone National Park.

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