Today the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service acknowledged the upcoming availability of a stamp featuring Hiawatha National Forest’s Grand Island National Recreation Area. Last week, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the new Grand Island Ice Caves Priority Mail Express stamp, which celebrates the winter beauty of the Grand Island National Recreation Area (GINRA). The island is located in Lake Superior near Munising on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is edged by massive sandstone cliffs and beautiful beaches.
“We were thrilled to see the stamp design, including the outstanding artwork that captures our Upper Peninsula winter so well,” said Charlie Marsh, Acting Forest Supervisor at Hiawatha National Forest.
Congress designated Grand Island National Recreation Area on May 17, 1990, in recognition of the outstanding features of this Lake Superior isle near Munising, MI. Impressive in any season, Grand Island’s cliffs are especially dramatic in winter when ground water seeps into the crevices and caverns, forming magnificent ice curtains and icicles that hang like stalactites from the rocks. The stamp art features artist Dan Cosgrove’s colorful illustration of how one of these ever-changing ice caves might appear from the inside looking out. USPS art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with Cosgrove’s original art.
As the land managers for Grand Island, the USDA Forest Service anticipates the publicity about the stamp will draw attention to Hiawatha National Forest and Grand Island specifically, as well as to the Michigan Ice Fest that occurs annually in Munising, MI, the GINRA’s gateway community.
During the summer months, visitors reach the island using passenger ferry service, private boat or kayak. GINRA’s summer recreation opportunities are fairly rustic, including hiking, biking, and camping. In the winter, Grand Island is comparatively quiet for most of the winter, with access limited by the safety of crossing the Lake Superior ice, which is uncertain due to strong currents in the underlying channels between the island and the mainland.
“We also hope winter visitors will explore the mainland winter recreation opportunities offered by Hiawatha National Forest, such as our cross-country ski trails, as well as the state snowmobile trails we host,” said Marsh.
Ski trails near Munising include Valley Spur Cross Country and McKeever Hills. To learn more about recreation opportunities in Hiawatha National Forest and Grand Island National Recreation Area, visit the Hiawatha National Forest website.
The U.S. Postal Service will release the $26.35 Priority Mail Express stamp on Saturday January 18, 2020. There will be no national first-day-of-issue ceremony for the stamp. Details on obtaining first-day-of-issue cancellations will be announced in a future Postal Bulletin issue. To learn more, visit the USPS website
