2018 Voyageurs National Park - San Francisco - Proof

Voyageurs National Park protects more than 218,000 acres of natural beauty in northern Minnesota, including 84,000 acres was lakes and other water. The park was named for “voyageurs,” the French-Canadian fur traders whose travels – particularly in the 18th century – took them through what is now northern Minnesota to trade with the Ojibwe and other Native American tribes.

The major appeal of the park is its isolated location. The only way to explore the vast expanses of open water and the numerous islands that are dotted among the lakes is by canoe, kayak, or other type of small boat. In addition to the lakes and islands, the park is renowned for its extensive forests that are home to a wide range of wildlife such as bald eagles, black bears, moose, and wolves. More than 230,000 people visit the park each year.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness adjoins Voyageurs National Park and is essentially an extension of the park. It stretches for about 150 miles along the Minnesota-Canada border and covers more than one million acres within the Superior National Forest. Quetico Provincial Park is a similar 1.2-million-acre area across the border in Ontario, Canada.

The reverse of the Voyageurs National Park Quarter features a common loon – the Minnesota state bird, which is abundant in the park – with a rock cliff and trees in the background. The selected design was one of five that were produced by U.S. Mint artists for consideration. All designs highlighted the natural beauty of the park.

This is the San Francisco Minted, proof quarter in a capsule.