ADG Embarks on a Mission to Create Poster Art of Lesser-Known National Park Service Sites!
The National Park Service manages more than just the iconic 63 National Parks. There are hundreds of smaller, less famous—yet significant historical, recreational, natural, and educational sites that you may not have ever heard of. The artists of Anderson Design Group have set out to celebrate many of these other National Monuments, National Forests, National Historical Sites, and other important landmarks that preserve essential parts of America for future generations to enjoy.
After creating art of the National Parks, the award-winning artists at Anderson Design Group have been itching to create more wilderness art and National Park art, so we decided to begin rendering original illustrations and vintage styled posters of National Park Service-managed sites. This is a massive undertaking which will be a labor of love for years to come.
What is a "National Park Service Site"?
The 63 American National Parks are the flagship conservation program of the National Park Service. These parks are pretty well-known (think Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Death Valley, Everglades, etc.), but they actually only represent a fraction of all of the parks (also called "units" or "sites") managed by the National Park Service.
In addition to the 63 National Parks, there are also (pause for dramatic effect):
- National Battlefields (11 Units)
- National Battlefield Parks (4 Units)
- National Battlefield Sites (1 Unit)
- National Military Parks (9 Units)
- National Historical Parks (63 Units)
- National Historic Sites (75 Units)
- International Historic Sites (1 Unit)
- National Lakeshores (3 Units)
- National Memorials (31 Units)
- National Monuments (84 Units)
- National Parkways (4 Units)
- National Preserves (19 Units)
- National Reserves (2 Units)
- National Recreation Areas (18 Units)
- National Rivers (4 Units)
- National Wild and Scenic Rivers (10 Units)
- National Scenic Trails (6 Units)
- National Seashores (10 Units)
- Other Designations (11 Units)
Can you imagine visiting all of them? What a bucket list!
Here's how the National Park Service explains its designation classifications for the public lands it manages:
"On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the 'Organic Act' creating the National Park Service, a federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for maintaining national parks and monuments that were then managed by the department. The National Park System has since expanded to 429 units (often referred to as parks), more than 150 related areas, and numerous programs that assist in conserving the nation's natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations. The National Park Service manages 429 individual units covering more than 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. While there are at least 19 naming designations, these units are commonly referred to as 'parks.' Multiple parks may be managed together as an administrative unit within the National Park Service."
Where the ADG Artists are at in the Project
To see where ADG's artists are at in their campaign to create art of these National Park Service units and sites, check out the American National Monuments and Natural Wonders Collection. This is where the art has currently made a home for itself, alongside other friendly designs like art of state parks, nature art, wilderness illustrations, and art of landmarks and art of historic sites.
The artists began by creating art of several of the National Monuments, National Historic Sites, and National Recreational Areas. Just a few hundred more original illustrations and vintage poster art designs to go! (As the collection grows, we may create a new collection on our site dedicated solely to NPS-managed sites and parklands, so stay tuned for that announcement).
Inspired by the 63 Illustrated National Parks Collection
The Illustrated 63 American National Parks Collection was the initial spark that lit the fire in the hearts and minds of ADG's Creative Director Joel Anderson and the studio artists to go from creating art of 63 National Parks to creating art of literally hundreds of National Park Service-managed sites.
Quoting Joel on the National Parks Collection:
"Inspired by the iconic WPA-commissioned artwork of the early 1900s, our National Park poster series is meant to conjure nostalgia through design, to celebrate our American heritage and the gift of unbridled nature with pencil, brush, and stylus. The talented artists of Anderson Design Group are finishing what the WPA began, hand-illustrating original travel poster designs for all of our National Parks (with new angles and perspectives added all the time). Whether you're creating a bucket list or wanting to remember the family road-trip of a lifetime, these handcrafted works by Anderson Design Group are perfect for any living or office space, rustic cabin, or uptown suite. Further, each year, we donate a portion of our profits to the National Park Foundation. Your purchase helps to protect America's National Parks!"
Joel and his artists are already bringing that same energy, passion for the arts, and love for the outdoors to the mission to create art of other parks, sites, and units managed by the National Park Service.
2024: The Year of New Wilderness Art
Our artists are already hard at work illustrating and rendering original posters of National Monuments, Historic Sites, Memorials, Parkways, and Preserves. So stay tuned for the new releases in the American National Monuments and Natural Wonders Collection!
If you're hankering for new art right this minute, why not check out our Scratch-N-Dent Sale? Don't hit the snooze button on this sale. Some awesome deals might be left, but they won't last long!
Until next time,
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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