U.S. #1453
8¢ Old Faithful
National Parks Centennial
Issue Date: March 1, 1972
City: Yellowstone National Park, WY
Quantity: 164,096,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Giori Press
Perforations: 11
Color: Multicolored
This stamp marks the 100th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park, which spreads over 2 million acres of land in Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and southwestern Montana. Its number-one attraction is the geyser, "Old Faithful."
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park has the proud distinction of being the oldest national park in the world. The vast majority of Yellowstone lies in Wyoming, although it stretches into Idaho and Montana. This gigantic park covers 2,200,000 acres, which include deep canyons, majestic waterfalls, pristine lakes, dense forests, and vast meadows.
The park has more geysers and hot springs than any other area in the world. These include Old Faithful, which sends a 100-foot stream of boiling water into the air about every 73 minutes. Yellowstone also has the distinction of being the largest wildlife preserve in the United States. Bears, bison (buffalo), elk, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, moose, cougars, and white pelicans are among the many animals that enjoy the park’s pristine environment.
Yellowstone’s landscape was formed by a series of ancient volcanic eruptions. More recently, glaciers covered the area – the last ones melted about 10,000 years ago.
The U.S. government obtained the area in 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase. A member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, John Colter, was probably the first white person to see the area.
In 1872, Congress established this first national park, to protect its unusual features and resources. The National Park Service was created in 1916, in part, to manage Yellowstone.
U.S. #1454
15¢ Mount McKinley
Issue Date: July 28, 1972
City: Mt. McKinley National Park, AK
Quantity: 53,920,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Giori Press
Perforations: 11
Color: Multicolored
Mount McKinley National Park is located 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The park is home to 132 species of birds and 37 species of mammals, including grizzly bear, timber wolves, and barren ground caribou. Over 3,000 square miles of the park surround Mt. McKinley, which is the highest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet.
“Top of the Continent” – Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is located in south-central Alaska, in the Alaska Range of mountains. It has the highest peak of any mountain in North America, which has earned the mountain the nickname, “Top of the Continent.” The mountain actually has two peaks – the South Peak, which measures 20,329 feet high, and the North Peak, which rises 19,470 feet. The mountain was named after U.S. President William McKinley, who served from 1897 to 1901.
Mount McKinley National Park was established in 1917. The Native Americans call Mount McKinley Denali, which means “The Great One.” In 1980, the name of the park was changed to Denali National Park. About 30 kinds of animals live within Denali’s protected lands, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall’s sheep, and red and silver foxes. In addition to Mount McKinley, there are over 300 other high mountain peaks in Denali National Park.
Although several parties previously claimed to have climbed Mount McKinley, the mountain was not successfully scaled until 1913, when Hudson Stuck, Harry P. Karstens, and two companions climbed to the top of the South Peak.