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News From 91.3 KUWS
Flipping over the Apostle Islands: Picture to be on back of quarters
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Story posted Tuesday at 8:44 a.m. 3/3/2009 |
Instead of heads or tails, it'll be heads or Apostle Islands. Mike Simonson reports from Superior.
The National Lakeshore on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin has been selected as Wisconsin's choice to be on the U.S. Mint's new quarter honoring national parks.
Getting selected for the tail end of two bits surprised Myra Foster. She's the acting Director of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. She says it'll be great exposure for the fairly isolated park that usually draws about 180,000 people a year.
"For people who live other places who don't even know that we're a unit of the National Park Service and that we exist. So I think it's great for the National Park Service but it's so great for Wisconsin too."
The competition was stiff. The Apostle Islands and its eight lighthouses and 21 islands beat out 2500 eligible national sites in Wisconsin...from Spring Green estate, Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and St. Croix National Scenic River.
"Isn't that exciting? I mean they're wonderful. Oh my goodness, they're just wonderful, wonderful places and keeping that company is extraordinary."
St. Croix National Scenic River Chief Interpreter Julie Galonska is taking the defeat like a champ.
"We're all part of one system. We all have great stories to tell so the fact that Apostle Islands will be representing the state is indeed a good thing. (So, no hard feelings?) No, not at all. We'll still get along with those folks up there."
The "America's Beautiful National Quarter Coin Act" selects a site from each state, minting five quarters a year over the next 10 years. The oldest sites, dating back 100 years, will be minted first. Since the Apostle Islands became a national park in 1970, it'll be a few years before it'll be jingling in our pockets.
Previous KUWS Articles:- New system to make Apostle Islands kayakers informed, safer -9/2/2010
- Air Force vet running for Obey's seat as independent -9/1/2010
- Ashland's historic ore dock demolition in dispute, closed session set -8/31/2010
- Vietnam vets get thank yous and welcome homes Saturday in Superior -8/30/2010
- Republican Lt. Gov candidates weigh in on what a Lt. Gov does -8/29/2010
