June 1: National Park Service Centennial Celebration and Mural Dedication

Date: May 19, 2016
Contact: Kristy Sholly, 907-422-0530

Seward, AK–On June 1, Kenai Fjords National Park will be gathering to celebrate the National Park Service 100^th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the park is honored to have National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis provide his vision for the next 100 years of stewardship, community and youth engagement.

The celebration will include the unveiling of a park mural titledKenai Fjords National Park: Where Mountains, Ice, and Ocean Meet. The mural highlights the diversity of an interconnected icefield, glacier, and coastal fjord ecosystem that attracts over 300,000 visitors each year. 

The mural was created through a partnership between Kenai Fjords National Park and the Seward Mural Society (SMS) with generous donations from Alaska Geographic and local donors. Seward Mural Society leaders, Jennifer Headtke and Dot Bardarson, coordinated the design of the mural with well-known Alaska master artist, Byron Birdsall. Birdsall painted the original watercolor of kayakers exploring the ice in front of Aialik Glacier, a massive tidewater glacier that calves into Aialik Bay. The mural was painted by the Seward Mural Society artist volunteers at the annual Seward Music and Arts Festival in September.

The mural is the newest addition to the more than 30 murals found throughout the community of Seward. Seward is proud to be the Mural Capital of Alaska and community members and visitors can find each of the SMS murals using a walking tour guide provided at the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center at 1212 4^thAvenue or at other local businesses that support the arts in Seward.

Kenai Fjords National Park invites you to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial and the unveiling of our community mural on June 1 from 6-7:30 pm at our headquarters building located at 411 Washington Street in Seward's downtown. There will be refreshments and a music performance by Good Dog with assistance from Seward Elementary School students. Join us for an evening of music and arts to celebrate the National Park Service and our community partners!