Date: April 20, 2010
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838
Contact: Kassandra Hardy, 406 888-7971
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONT. – On May 11, 1910, President William Howard Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier National Park as our 10th national park. As Glacier National Park commemorates its first 100 years, the public is invited to the park’s rededication event on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. Festivities will include a Rededication Ceremony at the West Glacier Community Building, the location of the park’s 50th and 75th anniversary events. The public is encouraged to attend this free commemoration and share in the day’s events. Cake will be served following the ceremony. No tickets are required to attend and park entrance fees will also be waived on May 11 in commemoration of the park’s 100th birthday.
Various dignitaries are invited to the park’s centennial birthday ceremony. At this time, confirmed attendees include Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger and Acting National Park Service (NPS) Intermountain Regional Director Mary Gibson Scott. Other invited dignitaries include Blackfeet Tribal Chairman Sharp and Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribal Chairman Moran, U.S. Senators Baucus and Tester, Congressman Rehberg, and NPS Director Jon Jarvis.
Walking tours, led by retired NPS employees, will be offered following the formal ceremony starting at noon. The tour includes four stops at historic locations in the headquarters compound including the park’s museum collection, historic fire hose tower, the original park headquarters building and the historic Belton Bridge.
With support from the NPS, Glacier National Park’s May 11th Rededication Ceremony is being planned by the centennial events volunteer committee as part of Glacier National Park’s overall community-based Centennial Program. According to the Centennial Events Committee Chairman Jan Metzmaker, “On the park’s actual 100th birthday, there will be various events held in the town site of West Glacier, including a special stamp cancellation at the West Glacier Post Office and special events at the Belton Chalet, Belton Depot and West Glacier Mercantile. We look forward to a great day of celebration.” A full description of May 11th community events and other information on the park centennial is available at www.glaciercentennial.org.
The West Glacier Community Building is located inside the park’s headquarters compound. To maintain traffic flow and ensure safety during the May 11th Rededication Ceremony greeters and volunteers will help usher attendees.
Parking will be available in West Glacier and shuttles will used to move attendees to and from the community building.
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