US #5080h
2016 Arches National Park – National Parks
- Honors Arches National Park
- One of 16 stamps celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: National Parks
Value: 47¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 2, 2016
First Da... more
US #5080h
2016 Arches National Park – National Parks
- Honors Arches National Park
- One of 16 stamps celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: National Parks
Value: 47¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 2, 2016
First Day City: New York, New York
Quantity Issued: 100,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Panes of 16
Tagging: Phosphor tagged paper, block
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the beauty and natural wonders of Arches National Park.
About the stamp design: Includes 16 designs, each picturing existing art or photographs of national parks or plants, animals, artwork, objects, or structures in national parks. The margins of each stamp includes the name of the location. coincide with the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Javits Center in New York City as part of the World Stamp Show NY 2016.
About the National Parks set: Includes 16 stamp designs, each picturing existing art or photographs of national parks or plants, animals, artwork, objects, or structures in national parks. The margins of each stamp include the name of the location. Issued to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The central image on the sheet of 16 pictures the 1¢ Yosemite postage stamp issued in 1934 along with the text “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.”
History the stamp represents: In 1854, Brigham young, then Utah Territory governor, sent 12 men out on the Old Spanish Trail trade route to establish a temporary camp. Within a year, there was a trading post and small settlement among Utah’s 2,000-plus natural sandstone arches.
Though the settlers were driven out by the native Ute Indians, the lands surrounding the arches continued to be settled and interest in the unique natural forms continued to grow. In 1911, 18-year-old local newspaper publisher Loren “Bish” Taylor began to run articles about the arches, their beauty, and the need to protect them. Taylor’s articles captured the attention of local prospector Alexander Ringhoffer, who saw the need to designate the area as a national park.
In 1923, Ringhoffer promoted the idea to the Rio Grande Western Railroad as a scenic tourist destination that would benefit their business. With the railroad’s support, the campaign for Arches National Park was under way. By 1930, 4,500 acres had been declared Arches National Monument. It would be many years before the area would be suitable for tourism, though.
After World War II, development of the park picked up and its area expanded drastically. Finally, in 1971, President Nixon established 76,679 acres as Arches National Park. Today, the park and its towering arches are visited by more than two million people each year.
Less 
