The 2016 National Parks Forever stamp issue contains 16 different designs in one 16-stamp pane. USPS released it on June 2, 2016, for the National Park Service centennial. The set combines photographs and historic artworks to represent landscapes, wildlife, plants, buildings, vessels and cultural resources protected by the park system.
Issue Facts
| Official name | National Parks |
|---|---|
| Issue date and city | June 2, 2016; New York, New York |
| Postage category | First-Class Mail Forever |
| Original format | Pane of 16; 16 different designs |
| Purpose | National Park Service centennial |
| USPS item number | 560600 |
| Designer, art director and typographer | Ethel Kessler |
The 16 Featured National Park Service Sites
- Acadia National Park, Maine
- Arches National Park, Utah
- Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia
- Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi
- Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
- Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, California
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
- Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
Why the Pane Is More Than 16 Landscape Photos
The set deliberately represents the breadth of the park system. Acadia uses a photograph of Bass Harbor Head Light, Assateague shows wild horses, San Francisco Maritime features the historic ship Balclutha, and Yellowstone shows bison. Other designs reproduce art held by park collections, including Thomas Moran’s Grand Canyon painting and an Albert Bierstadt landscape associated with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller. This mix explains why some designs look photographic while others look painted.
How to Identify a Complete Pane
- Sixteen stamps surround a central text panel.
- Each design represents a different National Park Service site.
- Small type on each stamp margin identifies the location.
- The pane header reads NATIONAL PARKS.
- USPS item 560600 and the 2016 issue date distinguish it from later park-themed stamps.
Postal Use and Collector Context
Unused genuine examples remain valid Forever postage for the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate. A heavier, square, rigid, oversized or international mailpiece may require more postage. A loose stamp keeps its postal value, but the intact pane preserves the 16-site survey, central text and centennial context.
For another multi-state landscape issue, compare the Appalachian Trail Forever stamps. The 2016 USPS stamp directory places National Parks alongside the other releases from its issue year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many National Parks Forever stamp designs are there?
Sixteen, with one design for each featured National Park Service site.
Were these stamps issued for the centennial?
Yes. The 2016 pane marked 100 years of the National Park Service.
Are all 16 designs photographs?
No. The pane combines photography with existing artwork connected to park collections and subjects.
Are 2016 National Parks stamps still valid?
Yes. Unused genuine examples remain valid Forever postage for an eligible one-ounce First-Class Mail letter.
Official sources checked September 1, 2026: USPS Stamp Announcement 16-19 and the USPS dedication report and 16-site list.
For a wider photographic tour of the country, the O Beautiful Forever stamps guide identifies the 20 landscapes arranged around five phrases from America the Beautiful.
For another place-based issue rooted in American public history, explore the five Post Office Murals stamp designs and their original locations.
For another landscape issue built from named American places, compare the twelve photographs in Wild and Scenic Rivers Forever stamps.
Explore related landscape, wildlife, and outdoor designs in Nature Forever Stamps: Trees, Mountains & Rivers.