Smokey Bear

I did not realize until today when we drove up into the mountains that Smokey Bear is a real bear, not a made-up story, although quite a fantastic story.  During World War 2 the US government began a campaign to help preserve the forests, wood being as precious as metals for the 'war effort'.  Many forest fires were started by man, a careless cigarette, a campfire not put out, something that today we know what to do but back then, there was no education on fire prevention.  An advertising campaign was started which depicted a bear holding a shovel, saying that you can prevent fires.

On our drive up to the town of Capitan

A nice park in Capitan that is run by the US Forest Service

Some of the original posters from before Smokey became the symbol

In May 1950 two man-made fires started near Capitan, a small town up in the mountains, to the north east of us, in the Lincoln National Forest.  Within 3 days the fires were out of control, burning over 17,000 acres and costing millions of dollars.  A firefighter came across a small bear cub clinging to a burnt tree, partially burned on his back and legs, in shock.  The cub was taken to a vet in Santa Fe and then stayed with the animal warden's family until it healed.  Within months, the bear grew to be a 'big handful' with being mischievous and dominating the household.  A home was found for it at the National Zoo in Washington DC and the bear was named Smokey.

Capitan Fire of May 1950 

Museum showed how to suppress fires among other thing 

Smokey became a national symbol and the advertising campaign that was going on adopted the actual photo and likeness of Smokey and with permission from the government, Smokey became the most known advertising success story of all time.  In 1968 a survey of school children were given various mottos, giving them only one or two words and they had to complete the slogan.  94% of the students could identify - ONLY YOU......CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.

Smokey Grave

Showed the 5 different zones of the mountains

Smokey lived out his life at the National Zoo, even a mate was brought in from the Capitan area, but no cubs were produced.  After his death, his remains were brought back to Capitan and he was buried with honors.  We saw his grave and the inscription about him while visiting the center.

Many countries around the world have adopted the same Smokey Bear campaign.  With the education on prevention of fires, the amount of man-man fires was and still is greatly reduced.  The Historical Park that houses the Smokey Bear museum also has a beautiful 2 acre garden in the back which depicts 5 of the 6 zones of the mountains we were in.  It is also where the grave of Smokey resides.
Within the museum, the history and firefighting tactics that are used are shown in various displays.  Nice day with an ah-ha moment.