ATB – Voyageurs Park

The third America The Beautiful release for 2018 commemorates the Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.

In 1971, the parks department established the park “to preserve . . . the outstanding scenery, geological conditions, and waterway system” inherent to the park, which protects 218,054 acres, including 84,000 acres of water.”

The reverse of the 5 oz. silver coin portrays a common loon floating in front of a rock cliff in the background. As with all of the America The Beautiful coins, the obverse is the classic profile of George Washington that is depicted on circulating U.S. quarters. The design on the reverse was created by Joseph Menna, Sculptor-Engraver.

Voyageurs National Park is in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border. This huge park is best known for its forests, waterways and vast island-filled lakes including: Rainy, Kabetogama and Namakan. It is fitting that this water-dominated park is the northern-most crown in Minnesota’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” In fact, the streams and lakes comprise about 40% of the park’s area. The park is named for the woodsman/boaters who traversed these lands throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, hauling goods and passengers to and from Canadian trading posts working for fur companies. In 1971, the area’s status as a national park was signed into law by President Nixon.

The common loon is an iconic symbol of Voyageurs. Their eerie calls leave a lasting impression on visitors who hear the sound echoing across the park’s lakes. In fact, the common loon is the state bird of Minnesota, as it supports the largest loon population in the lower 48 states

The America the Beautiful 5 oz. Silver Quarter Series began in 2010 to commemorate national parks, monuments, and historical sites. Five new coins are released each year. The 5 oz silver bullion coins are enlargements of the same designs depicted on the quarters that are in normal circulation.