Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE U.S. Postal Service plans to release a series of stamps featuring the Ontonagon River, middle of fourth row, and several of the nation's other Wild and Scenic Rivers in 2019.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Northwoods residents will be able to send a little slice of home around the country next year, as the U.S. Postal Service recently announced the Ontonagon River will be featured on a forever stamp in 2019.
The river is one of 12 featured in the Postal Service's Wild and Scenic Rivers series, according to a Postal Service spokesman. A stamp shows Tim Palmer's photo of what appears to be Kakabika Falls on the Cisco Branch of the river in Gogebic County.
"This issuance celebrates Wild and Scenic Rivers - exceptional American streams that run freely through natural landscapes without man-made alterations," a spokesperson said.
The series of stamps will also feature photos of the Merced River, Owyhee River, Koyukuk River, Niobrara River, Snake River, Flathead River, Missouri River, Skagit River, Deschutes River, Tlikakila River and Clarion River.
A specific date or time for the issuance of the stamps hasn't been announced, Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts told the Daily Globe Tuesday.
Congress created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1968, according to the National Park Service, to, "Preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations."
Sections of the Ontonagon River were designated as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system in 1992. Forty-three miles of the river are designated as wild, according to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System's website, with an additional 35 miles listed as scenic. The different designations describe how undeveloped and accessible the various waterways are.
The system protects 209 rivers in 40 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, stretching 12,754 miles.
The series is one of roughly 20 forever stamp designs the Postal Service will use in the new year.
"The miniature works of art illustrated in the 2019 stamp program offer something for everyone's interest about American history and culture," U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Executive Director Mary-Anne Penner said in a news release. "From legendary poet Walt Whitman, to the entertainment genius of Gregory Hines, to the majestic beauty of our Wild and Scenic Rivers, this program is diverse and wide ranging and tells America's story on stamps."
