Smokey the Bear in the Subway

Hello Woodsy

Another July 4th subject.

Smokey the Bear dates back to the early 50's when a burned bear cub was rescued after a forest fire.

The National Park Service has used his image ever since as a warning for park visitors to be careful and not start forest fires.

Back in 1976 for the Bicentennial the attached car card appeared in NYC Subway cars. I admired it and to my surprise my wife took it down from the wall and gave it to me/ Now it sits framed in my basement looking over my toy trains.

Terranova47

U$A

Bear Essentials

 

I've seen a few of these stickers sets online. But who is Smokey Bear? Is he a ranger? Does he have a TV show? 

Anyone know Smokey?

National Park Souvenirs

I love old National Park souvenirs like this plastic plaque in a Selby charity shop here in the UK.

 They could be from anywhere with big wildernesses and landscapes. This is from Banff in Canada. No doubt a British family visited it in the Fifties or Sixties, when natural tourism was just beginning.

It hints at long drives in a car or on a bus. I always think of a family Woody station wagon heading into the hills, parents eager to find the next monument and the kids eager for a burger!  

There's something endearing about souvenir designs especially for National Monuments and Parks. Are there any rocket or space-related Monuments and souvenirs?  

Souvenirs are fascinating windows into the past. Not toys but somewhere nearby.

I wonder if anyone collects souvenirs like this?