The National Park Service will host a special release event for the commemorative Blue Ridge Parkway quarter today in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, beginning at 10 a.m.
The newly minted currency will depict a scene from the North Carolina section of the parkway on the reverse side, complete with the state flower, as part of the National Parks Quarter series. The parkway quarter is the 28th release of the United States Mint “America the Beautiful” Quarters Program, which launched in 2010, and marks the completion of the first half of the 56 quarter series, according to the series official website.
The Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs 469 miles through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, is the country’s most visited national park, with over 15 million estimated visitors a year, despite many sections being closed for several months in the wintertime. North Carolina was selected to grace the back side of the quarter due to the fact that a majority of the parkway runs through the state.
Festivities today at Pack Square Park include informational activities with U.S. park rangers and a special musical performance by local legend David Holt. Children under the age of 18 will receive a free quarter, and copies of the new coin can be purchased by exchange at the Asheville Savings Bank.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program will continue to release five quarters each year until 2021. More information on the release can be found at parkquarters.com. For more information on the Blue Ridge Parkway and upcoming events in the area, check out blueridgeparkway.org.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.