BY JENNIFER E. JONES

This past month Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve east of Carey, Idaho, turned 101, bringing its 100th anniversary year to a close.

President Calvin Coolidge issued a proclamation to establish Craters of the Moon National Monument to preserve its “weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself” on May 2, 1924.

 The National Park Service kicked off the Craters of the Moon Centennial celebrations on May 2, 2024, which Governor Brad Little declared in a proclamation as “Craters of the Moon Centennial Day” in Idaho.

Many Federal, state, and local agencies; non-governmental organizations; private businesses; and individuals collaborated to develop and implement a variety of Craters of the Moon Centennial activities and events. Thanks to their combined efforts, nearly 315,000 visitors traveled to Craters of the Moon during the Centennial year--a 22 percent increase from 2023 and a new all-time record for the park.

“Craters of the Moon is a unique and special place, and it was really important to us to honor it appropriately during its Centennial year,” said Wade Vagias, superintendent of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. “We are very grateful to all of the partners and visitors who helped make the Craters of the Moon Centennial so successful.”

 Craters of the Moon Centennial highlights and accomplishments, which are outlined in an infographic the NPS developed, include:

Idaho’s congressional delegation submitted a Congressional Record Statement “Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Craters of the Moon.”

The Idaho Department of Commerce/Idaho Tourism invested in a paid and earned media campaign to promote the Centennial.

The Centennial received extensive coverage in national, regional, and local media outlets.

NPS staff and partners published guest opinions in Idaho media outlets focused on the themes of the Centennial: Rich Cultural Heritage, Tranquil Wilderness, Robust Research, Explosive Geology, and Dark Night Sky.

The park held more than 20 Centennial special events, such as star parties, full moon hikes, and dedication of new Devils Orchard Trail Interpretive Waysides developed in collaboration with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association sold a wide range of Centennial Merchandise which generated record sales, much of which will be used to support future park projects.

One of the five Craters of the Moon Centennial Artist-in-Resident’s photos was selected for inclusion in the Department of the Interior Museum’s Office of the Secretary Art Collection.

 The National Park Service encourages those who couldn’t visit Craters of the Moon during its Centennial year to visit the park in 2025. To learn more, visit https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm or call the park Visitor Center at 208-527-1335.