Smokey Bear's 75th Birthday

They’re throwing a birthday party for Smokey Bear and everyone is invited. Meet Smokey Bear and take photos with him! Come and watch the Ballad of Smokey Bear (1966) a claymation children’s movie about the beginnings of Smokey Bear on the screen inside the Daily Planet Theater, sign a giant birthday card for Smokey and other fun activities. Hosted by the NC Forest Service.

Smokey Bear was born on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear named Smokey would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote forest fire prevention. Artist Albert Staehle was asked to paint the first poster of Smokey Bear. It depicted a bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire and saying “Care will prevent 9 out of 10 fires.” Smokey Bear soon became popular as his image appeared on a variety of forest fire prevention materials. In 1947, his slogan became the familiar “Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires!”