Slide of the Week: August 12th, 2004
Smokey The Bear, International Falls, Minnesota, 1958
Wearing only pants and accessorized with a personalized belt buckle and ranger hat, this is the largest statue anywhere of the legendary best friend and protector of America’s forests. The 26-foot statue was dedicated in 1954 and stands there to this very day.
In the world of spokes-characters none are as noble, and few are as famous as Smokey. This year the poster bear celebrates his 60th year. He was the brainchild of The National Forest Service back in 1944. He was born to be the official symbol and spokesman for fire prevention; to keep careless campers from carelessly destroying the nations lumber supply. His first (and only) words were “only you can prevent forest fires.”
In 1950 Smokey came to life. A lucky little black bear cub, badly burned in a New Mexico forest fire, was rescued and rehabilitated then made into a star. He was named Smokey the bear and became the main attraction at the National Zoo in Washington DC. He received so much fan mail he had his own zip code.
In 1962 he was married to a young beautiful bear named Goldie in hopes that they would have a family of little Smokeys. But it wasn’t to be. They never had any cubs.
Smokey died in 1976. Ironically, his body was cremated.
God Bless Smokey the Bear
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
August 2004
Sets this Slide belongs to:
Roadslide
4 Comments on “Smokey The Bear, International Falls, Minnesota, 1958”
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July 8th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Grew up seeing the Smokey the bear statue and cubs. Each summer we`d go up to the Falls to vacation. Always asked to go see Smokey. Have photo`s of that. Belive we went and saw the bears the first year they were put up. Love bears!!!
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 am
Smokey Bear. As defined by The Smokey Bear Act of 1952, copyright forever!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Bear
…Lorenzo
March 18th, 2008 at 11:49 am
i live in international falls mn and smokey bear looks alot different and the backround isen’t there any more now it is boise a paper making factory
May 5th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Dude i see this everday i can’t beleive other people have actually seen it
cool!!