How to Make the Most of National Park Week?

April 17, 2025

National Park Week is around the corner, from April 19th to the 27th. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover (or rediscover) the breathtaking beauty of America’s National Park System.

If you’re dreaming of towering mountains, serene forests, dramatic coastlines, or historical landmarks, there’s a national park waiting to captivate you. This annual event is a chance to connect with these treasured places and learn about their significance.

Can’t get out to enjoy the parks in person? The National Park Service (NPS) recently remastered its popular posters, which bring the beauty of America’s national parks to life. The posters showcase stunning art by the iconic artist Charley Harper. Charley Harper was an American mid-century modern artist recognized for his bold, graphic style and nature illustrations. Harper created fascinating artwork for a series of ten posters for the NPS that captured the essence of different parks in America.

Here are a few of the National Park posters featuring Charley Harper’s artwork:

Atlantic Barrier Islands depicts the animal and plant life of the Atlantic Barrier Islands. This poster showcases the rich wildlife of the barrier islands, including shorebirds, sea turtles, and dolphins.

Hawaii Volcanoes depicts Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This poster features the volcanic landscapes of Hawaii, with flowing lava, cinder cones, and native Hawaiian plants and animals.

The Rocky Mountains depict color and the animal and plant life of the Rocky Mountains. On the poster, a beaver pond reflects the landscape of the Rockies, a terrain shaped by glaciers, streams, and the beaver itself.

How to Make the Most of National Park Week:

  • Plan Your Visit: Check the website of the national park or parks you’re interested in visiting for specific events and activities during the week. Reservations may be required for some programs.
  • Explore Something New: Consider visiting a park you’ve never visited! You might be surprised by the hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
  • Get Involved: Look for volunteer opportunities or ways to support the National Park Service.
  • Share Your Experience: Use the hashtag #NationalParkWeek to share your photos and stories on social media and inspire others to explore.

Whether or not you plan on visiting a national park this summer, Charley Harper’s nature-oriented prints can take you there without leaving home.

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Trudy Hawkins is Government Book Talk Editor and Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office, supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).


Captivating Posters from the NPS

March 29, 2024

The National Park Service (NPS) recently remastered its popular posters that bring the beauty of America’s national parks to life, showcasing stunning art by the iconic artist Charley Harper. Charley Harper was an American mid-century modern artist recognized for his bold, graphic style and nature illustrations. Harper created fascinating artwork for a series of ten posters for the National Park Service that captured the essence of different parks in America.

Here are a few of the National Park posters featuring Charley Harper’s artwork:

Glacier Bay, Alaska poster explores the abundance and variety of life inhabiting the Bay.

Canyon Country poster depicts the Canyon Country National Parks in southern Utah, northern Arizona, eastern Nevada, and western Colorado. Enjoy enchanted landscapes of colorful pinnacles, buttes, spires, mesas, and canyons teeming with wildlife.

The Coral Reef poster explores the abundance and variety of coral reef sea life inhabiting Caribbean reef preserves.

Plus, seven more amazing posters of enduring beauty are available here.

These iconic posters feature vivid colors, simplified shapes, and a whimsical depiction of the flora and fauna of each park. They continue to be popular today, celebrating the beauty and diversity of America’s national parks.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales Office.

Images and additional content provided by Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins. Trudy is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).