In honor of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday, Shawnee National Forest will showcase 19 historical paintings by artist Rudolph (Rudy) Wendelin. These iconic replicas, on loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, were created between 1977 and 1995 and are among the most famous representations of Smokey Bear.
The open house and birthday celebration will take place on Monday, September 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shawnee National Forest Headquarters office, located at 50 Hwy. 145 South in Harrisburg. Families are invited to enjoy the artwork, participate in fun activities, and help celebrate Smokey’s milestone.
The collection will be available for viewing at the Forest Headquarters from September 3-6 and September 9-13, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Organized groups should contact Vincent Gonzalez at 800-699-6637 in advance.
Following the open house, the artwork will travel to Giant City State Park in Makanda on September 7 and 8, where it will be on display at the Visitor Center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors can enjoy the park and also meet Smokey Bear during this special event.
Rudy Wendelin, who began illustrating for the U.S. Forest Service in 1933, designed Smokey’s recognizable look with his ranger hat and blue jeans, helping to spread the message, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires,” across generations.
For more details, visit www.smokeybear.com.
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