Celebrating Smokey’s enduring message

Smokey Bear celebrated his 80th birthday last Tuesday evening with a visit to the home of another legend of the woodlands — the Rhinelander Hodag. 

A special reception was held at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex July 2 to commemorate National Forest Week, Wildland Firefighters Week, and welcome the Rudolph “Rudy” Wendelin Smokey Bear replica portrait collection for limited display.

The Rudolph “Rudy” Wendelin collection of Smokey Bear portraits drew a crowd to the Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander July 2, 2024.
(Photo by Heather Schaefer/River News)

One of the motivations for bringing the portrait collection to Rhinelander was to call attention to fire safety during one of the busiest recreation weekends of the season, explained Department of Natural Resources Chief State Forester Heather Berklund. 

“Human-caused fires are still 98 percent of the wildland fires that we have — people burning brush and campfires getting away,” she noted, adding that Smokey is an enduring symbol of the need to practice personal responsibility so that our precious natural resources remain protected for future generations to enjoy.

“Think about it, next to Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse, I think Smokey Bear is one of the most recognized icons, characters in the United States and really one of the longest-standing public service campaigns and really an important living symbol of that fire prevention message that we can provide,” Berklund said, adding that the first Smokey Bear costume was created in Mercer and Wisconsin was the first state to have an air patrol to detect wildland fires.

Pioneer Park Historical Complex curator/director Kerry Bloedorn welcomed the portrait exhibition to the “oldest logging museum of its kind in the country.”

“What an honor it is to have these portraits on display,” he said.

Rhinelander chamber of commerce chief executive officer Lauren Sackett echoed Bloedorn’s sentiments.

“Our efforts to promote Rhinelander’s unique culture and history are strengthened through events like this so we are very excited that this is in our community,” she said. “Icons like Smokey Bear and our beloved Hodag are key parts of history that play a vital role in embodying the spirit of the community.”

USDA FS Forest Supervisor Jenn Youngblood explained that students from the Blackwell Job Corps built easels to hold the 19 portraits included in the Wendelin collection during their visit to the PPHC.

Wendelin, a legendary USDA Forest Service artist, created the portraits of Smokey Bear from 1977 through 1995. He worked for the Forest Service as an illustrator beginning in 1933 and was the mastermind behind Smokey Bear’s signature ranger hat and blue jeans. He is also responsible for Smokey’s somber expression and ubiquitous shovel. 

The portraits show Smokey in all sorts of different scenes, often with other woodland animals, against a backdrop of lakes, mountains and dense forest. 

Seamlessly integrated into each portrait is Smokey’s enduring message about natural resources conservation and forest fire prevention.

“Campers: Be careful with fire” a sign in the background of one of the portraits reads. 

The exhibition was scheduled to leave Rhinelander on Sunday, July 7 to continue its year-long road show traveling throughout the U.S.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].