Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Voyageurs National Park to Get Quarters Minted Celebrating Them

Voyageurs National Park and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will be celebrated on new quarters coming to a coin jar or pocket near you. As part of the U.S. Mint's 'America The Beautiful' Quarters Program, national parks and wildlife/recreational areas around the country are getting coins made that will go into circulation. The program started back in 2010, featuring coins for Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and a couple others. Next year, Voyageurs and the Apostle Islands will get their turn.

The two parks will be among five total parks getting coins in 2018. Conveniently, all of the 2018 coins have a water theme, all featuring parks with bodies of water playing an important role in the park's formation, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Penninsula (also along Lake Superior) will get a coin, along with Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia and Block Island Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.

Voyageurs National Park Quarter

The U.S. Mint's website describes the design of the coin as featuring the traditional George Washington "heads" side of the coin, with the "tails" side featuring a loon floating on a lake with a rock cliff and pine trees in the background. The write-up on their website also offers a little history on the park, which was established in 1971 to preserve the unique scenery and waterway system that exists within the park.

The coin's design was created by Patricia Lucas-Morris, and was sculpted by Joseph Menna.

Voyageurs National Park is Minnesota's only national park, with the core activities of the park being tied the lakes within the park's borders. Fishing, canoe/kayak paddling, camping, and hiking are the most common activities, with plenty of natural scenery to enjoy along the way. Kabetogama Lake is the largest lake in the park, but Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake are also accessible from within the park, with both lakes bordering the northern and eastern parts of Voyageurs.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Quarter

The U.S. Mint's website describes the design of the coin as featuring the traditional George Washington "heads" side of the coin, with the "tails" side featuring a kayaker paddling by the famous sea caves the park is known for, as well as the Devil's Island Lighthouse, which is on one of the park's outermost islands in Lake Superior. The park was established in 1970 to protect the unique islands, shoreline and light stations within the park's borders.

The coin's design was created by Richard A. Masters and sculpted by Renata Gordon.

Wisconsin has no national parks, but Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is one of four National Parks Service-maintained attractions, which also include Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Madison, North Country National Scenic Trail (which extends through many states, including Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota), and Saint Croix National Riverway in Saint Croix Falls.