Tag Archives: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park: One of Our Grandest Things

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This 2006 stamp features a photograph of the Gates of the Valley in Yosemite.

Monday marks the 122nd anniversary of Yosemite National Park. Established on October 1, 1890, the park encompasses 747,956 acres in the Sierra Nevada. With the impressive Yosemite Valley as its centerpiece, it includes a breathtaking range of geographical features, such as waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, expansive meadows, groves of giant sequoias, and granite monoliths such as El Capitan and Half Dome.

The U.S. Postal Service has a long history of honoring America’s national parks. This is no surprise when you consider that parks and postage stamps tell intertwining stories and frequently share a common goal—to preserve what Walt Whitman called “the grandest things” for the benefit of future generations.

In 2010, the U.S. Postal Service joined with the National Park Service to create The Grandest Things: Our National Parks in Words, Images, and Stamps.

This lavish 116-page hardcover book (which is still available online!) recounts the history of our national parks with gorgeous photographs and nine mint stamps—including the Old Faithful, Yellowstone stamp from 1972! The book has plenty of space for collecting and storing other related stamps, while giving a tour of more than 75 parks, monuments, and memorials.

It also includes historic quotations and documents, as well as philatelic history insights. Did you know, for example, that Postmaster General James Farley sometimes gave ungummed and unperforated stamp sheets to friends . . . like Franklin D. Roosevelt? In 1935, after collectors and others complained to Congress, these sheets (including stamps in honor of national parks) were made available to the public.

Perfect for stamp fans and park fans alike, The Grandest Things will make a delightful, and quite unexpected, gift this holiday season!

The Majesty and Splendor of the U.S.’s Oldest National Park

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Ninth in the Scenic American Landscapes series, this stamp features a photograph of the Gates of the Valley in Yosemite National Park in California. Established on October 1, 1890, the park encompasses 747,956 acres in the Sierra Nevada. With the impressive Yosemite Valley as its centerpiece, the park includes a breathtaking range of geographical features, such as waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, expansive meadows, groves of giant sequoias, and granite monoliths such as El Capitan and Half Dome.

Each year nearly four million people enjoy the spectacular sights of Yosemite. Approximately 800 miles of marked trails can be found in the park. Nearly 95 percent of Yosemite has been designated wilderness.

To celebrate National Park Week, we’re holding a daily contest here on the blog centered around our love of national parks. Each day’s single winner will receive a set of the Scenic American Landscapes stamped cards, which showcase photographs from parks across the country.

To enter the contest for today, simply answer the following question:

How many acres does the smallest national park measure?

Submit your answer to uspsstamps [at] gmail [dot] com and remember, spelling counts! The winner will be selected at random and notified by email. Deadline for entries is 12 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 28. Good luck!