The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016, and Shenandoah National Park announced a year-long list of special events to celebrate this milestone. The NPS Centennial events were designed by our staff and partners with three goals in mind:
- Connect with, and create the next generation of Park visitors, supporters and advocates.
- Plan for and begin the next century of effective stewardship of Park natural and cultural resources and built assets.
- Make Shenandoah one of the best places to work in the Service.
The calendar of events can be found on our website at the following link:http://www.nps.gov/shen/
Please note that some of the event details are still being determined and the calendar will be updated periodically as details are finalized.
Most events on the calendar will be taking place in and around SNP. A few of the highlights include:
- Every Kid in the Park Program – every 4th grader in the area will be provided with a free pass for themselves and their family for the 2016 season. A special celebration will be held on May 21st that will also include the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
- Rededication of the Historic Hawksbill Observation Platform on August 20, to celebrate the reconstruction of this important park feature by youth crews learning historic preservation skills.
- Four music events are planned from April through October with artists featuring music honoring our national parks and the people who were important in establishing our parks.
- NPS Centennial Quilts – Two traveling quilt shows featuring quilts with national park themes will be on display in the park and at the nearby Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg.
- Shenandoah National Park Association Seminars and activities that feature visiting authors, photographers and artists.
- Historic Photography – a look back at iconic images in SNP will be featured and photographers invited to recreate a 2016 setting.
- Naturalization Ceremony – Shenandoah will host a naturalization ceremony to welcome new citizens to their national parks.
Other NPS Centennial events will take place not too far away in the mid-Atlantic region. A few highlights include:
- National Parks Adventure, an IMAX film created in celebration of the Centennial will be shown at theaters in Washington, DC, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
- “Flora of the National Parks” is a free exhibit of artworks depicting familiar, rare and iconic plants and trees of America’s national parks held at the United States Botanic Garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from February until October 2, 2016. Five works of art showcasing Shenandoah’s flowering plants are on display.
Please come and “Find Your Park” in Shenandoah National Park and help us celebrate “America’s Best Idea”.
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