Soliciting Ideas for Park's 50th

Date: May 7, 2015
Contact: Susan Reece, 906-387-2607, ext 208

The 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) is approaching and so is the 50th anniversary of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We want your ideas and help with planning for these concurrent anniversaries.

The National Park Service was created in 1916 to manage the existing national parks and monuments. After 100 years, the system has grown to 407 areas covering more than 84 million acres throughout the country. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was established in 1966 as the nation’s first national lakeshore.

The focus of the centennial celebration is "Find Your Park", a call for everyone to get out there, explore, and find their special place in the lands we have set aside and protected for their natural beauty, important ecosystems, cultural importance, and historical significance. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of those special places. We want to offer events and activities that invite everyone to learn more about this park. We want to share your stories and experiences. We want to talk about the past, present, and future of this beautiful area. We want to help everyone understand what makes the Lake Superior country so special.

Events will be included on a national calendar that visitors from around the world will use to plan trips, so start thinking about ways the NPS can invite the world to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore!

An Open House will be held on May 14, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Alger County Heritage Center, located at 1496 Washington St, in Munising, Michigan. We will provide more information about the Centennial, describe some of the things that the park service staff is planning, and brainstorm ideas that involve the whole community. If you are unable to attend, feel free to send us your ideas.

This is a very exciting time for the park and the Service as we celebrate fifty years as the nation’s first national lakeshore and a century of preservation and interpretation in special places across this great land.

For further information, including specific directions to this event, contact Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at 906-387-2607, ext 208 or email: [e-mail].