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NATIONAL PARK QUARTERS
The coins release order is dictated by the order in which the honored sites came under the direct control of the federal government. As such, the Hot Springs National Park Quarter was the first to be released as the site was granted federal protection on April 20, 1832. Conversely, the last coin to be released in the program will be the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Quarter, scheduled for 2021, with that site only being established on November 6, 1998.
All of the sites are honored on the reverse (tails side) of the fifty-six quarter dollars issued in the series with a design emblematic of that location. The obverse (heads side) of each coin will contain the same design, a portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. This image of Washington was initially used on the circulating 1932 quarter dollar and was designed by John Flanagan. The same portrait has been used on the quarters ever since 1932, with some modifications occurring in 1999 as part of the 50-State Quarter series.
White Mountain National Forest Quarter – The White Mountain National Forest Quarter honors White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire, established in 1918. The forest is home to the Tuckerman Ravine, a glacial cirque. The Tuckerman Ravine is a challenge to the 60 thousand hikers and skiers that visit each year, and boasts breathtaking scenery and much snow.
This national forest is also home to Mt. Washington, the highest peak north of the Smoky Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, where at the top, tourists can see over 100 miles on a clear day.
White Mountain has over 1,200 miles of hiking trails, 400 miles of snowmobile trails, 160 miles of the Appalachian Trail and several other tourist attractions that garner thousands of visitors a year.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Quarter – The Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Quarter recalls the site in Ohio built to commemorate a War of 1812 naval battle and the enduring peace that has lasted following that war by the two opposing forces, the United States of America and Great Britain.
The memorial is a Doric column, which is 352 tall, and stands over Lake Erie. Tourists come to learn about Commodore Oliver H. Perry who commanded the victorious American Navy and how this battle changed the course of the War of 1812. There are several programs throughout the park for visitors to attend to learn about Lake Erie and the War of 1812 as well.
Great Basin National Park Quarter – The Great Basin National Park Quarter honors the Nevada site home to many crystal caves, and 5,000 year old bristlecone pines. Just over 100,000 visitors come to this park each year, making it an almost private getaway for many travelers. This national park is also home to Wheeler Peak, which is over 13,000 feet tall.
Great Basin National Park is often misunderstood as a barren wasteland, but many tourists are surprised when they visit, for they find the national park is very much alive. This area is so remote that during the night people can clearly see the Milky Way, which is why Great Basin National Park has been named one of the darkest places in the country at night.
Great Basin National Park also boasts several climates, based on elevation, since Mount Wheeler makes its home there. There may be snow in the summer at the highest elevations, while in the basin, the days are hot.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Quarter – The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Quarter honors the site in Maryland made famous by Francis Scott Key in writing his poem the Star-Spangled Banner.
During the War of 1812, Key was on an American truce ship when he witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry. The next morning, he saw that the United States’ flag was still flying, signifying the base had not been taken. He was so moved by the events at Fort McHenry, he wrote the Star-Spangled Banner about the battle.
Fort McHenry was also used during the American Civil War, World War I and World War II. During each war, it was used as a different facility, such as a hospital and a prison. Even so, the fort still looks much like the original structure from the War of 1812.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Quarter – The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Quarter honors the site in South Dakota that boasts almost three million visitors a year. These visitors come from all over the globe to view a sculpture of faces of four of the most famous presidents in United States history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
It took almost 15 years to carve the four presidents into the mountain, all but one year under the supervision of Gutzon Borglum. His son finished the carving, with the help of many others, carrying on his father’s legacy.