From Custer Gallatin National Forest
Custer Gallatin National Forest is excited to announce that the forest will be hosting the Rudolph Wendelin Smokey Bear Artwork Tour August 12th–23rd in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday. This nation-wide tour features replicas of the iconic artwork of Smokey’s most famous artist, Rudolph “Rudy” Wendelin. Artwork will be on display at both Earthquake Lake Visitor Center and the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. There will be special programs focused on fire safety and wildfire prevention and appearances by Smokey Bear himself.
In connection with this special tour and in honor of the 65th anniversary of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, Earthquake Lake Visitor Center will also have on display three original watercolors of the Earthquake Lake area by Rudy Wendelin. These watercolors were completed in the 1970s when Wendelin traveled west to capture iconic US Forest Service locations using his artistic talents.
The following locations will have the Smokey Bear artwork displayed from Monday, Aug. 12th through Friday, Aug. 23rd:
Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, 319 HWY 287, Cameron, MT, open daily from 10am to 5pm. West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center, 30 Yellowstone Avenue, West Yellowstone, MT, open daily from 8am to 8pm.
On loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, these replica paintings were completed from 1979 through 1996 and remain the most famous depictions of Smokey Bear.
Smokey Bear was introduced in 1944 as an advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Prevention Campaign. This campaign aimed to reduce wildfires since many men were serving in the armed forces during World War II, reducing the number of individuals available at home to fight wildfires. Rudy Wendelin first started working for the US Forest Service as an illustrator in 1933 and took over as the campaign’s full-time artist in 1949. Thanks to Wendelin’s iconic art, Smokey’s message, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires,” has prevailed through the generations.
The West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center will host Smokey Bear’s birthday celebration on Friday, August 9th from 4–6pm ahead of the art exhibit. Smokey will be in attendance and cake will be served.
For larger tours, please contact the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center at (406) 682-7620. In the event that the artwork delivery is delayed, adjusted details on art viewing will be sent out.
The public can do their part to prevent human-caused wildfires. Smokey Bear turns 80 on Aug. 9th, and the Forest Service is celebrating this birthday all year long. To learn more about Smokey Bear and his role within the US Forest Service over the last 80 years, visit www.SmokeyBear.com. •
