Voyageurs National Park 50th Anniversary
Media Fact Sheet

Happy Birthday to Voyageurs!

In 2025, we celebrate and toast to 50 years of Voyageurs National Park. Established on April, 8 1975, Voyageurs is a primarily water-based national park that spans 218,000+ acres of lakes, forests and streams in northern Minnesota, and one of the state’s most treasured natural wonders.

This year we reflect on a half-century of parkhood while we take in the present day wonders – from big lakes, wild habitat to world-class dark skies. And we look 50 more years into the future, envisioning a park that is protected and accessible for many generations to come.

During this year-long celebration, Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service will commemorate the milestone with special events, programs, partnerships and other initiatives that honor five decades of adventure, connection and conservation.

Celebrate and Connect with Voyageurs in 2025

Find event and programming details at voyageurs.org/50th; more updates will be added throughout 2025.

Celebrate “Voyageurs National Park Day” on April 8 – Governor Walz will proclaim the park’s April 8 birthday “Voyageurs National Park Day” in Minnesota. This honorable designation recognizes the park’s important role in preserving Minnesota’s natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage for visitors and future generations to enjoy.

NPS Archives Tour – On April 8, celebrate the park’s rich history for a behind-the-scenes look at rare archival materials, historic documents, and artifacts. More information about the park headquarters open house event in International Falls, plus a virtual webinar, can be found at Voyageurs.org/2025archives.

Celebrate National Park Week, April 19 through 27 – Connect with Voyageurs Conservancy at the Strib Unbound event on April 26 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Twin Cities area schools are also encouraged to register for a Voyageurs Mobile Classroom visit during National Park Week.
Community Art Day & Pints for the Park, June 13 - 14 – Join us at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for a day of painting, poetry, and fishing fun on the pier on June 14. The night before, on June 13, raise a glass in International Falls at Pints for the Park.

Voyageurs 50th Birthday Party in Minneapolis – Celebrate Voyageurs National Park’s half-century milestone with a birthday bash at a Minneapolis brewery to enjoy interactive national park exhibits, live music, and a special 50th anniversary brew. More details coming soon.
50th Anniversary Contests – This summer, park enthusiasts can participate in the Voyageurs Conservancy Photo Contest and Voyageurs 50th Summer Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Voyageurs getaway package, Wenonah's new SuperLite Minnesota II canoe, gift cards, exclusive park merchandise and more. Subscribe to the Conservancy’s e-newsletter for more details and contest announcements.
Leave No Trace Spotlight, July 24 through 26 –Join Leave No Trace, Voyageurs Conservancy, and the National Park Service for a Leave No Trace Spotlight at Voyageurs National Park from July 24-26! This multi-day event offers hands-on learning about sustainable outdoor practices, with workshops for staff, a pop-up booth for community resources, and a trail cleanup to help protect Voyageurs' pristine waters and wilderness.
Voyageurs Scavenger Hunt and Passport Stamps – Later this spring, complete a scavenger hunt on the park’s Oberholtzer Trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to receive a 50th anniversary prize. Additionally, a special 50th anniversary park passport stamp will be available at park visitor centers this summer.

50 Years, 50 Legacies – This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy, from the visionaries who established the park to those protecting its beauty today.
All-New Crane Lake Visitor Center and Grand Opening Event – The community of Crane Lake and the National Park Service will debut a new visitor center with a special grand opening event on June 6, 2025. The new visitor center will serve as a gateway and discovery hub to the park’s eastern region, including Sand Point and Namakan Lakes.

Looking ahead to 2026, additional and permanent educational installations will help showcase the park’s world-class dark skies, waterways, and Ojibwe history, with special activities that engage children. On-site volunteers and NPS staff will help educate and guide new visitors to launch their outdoor adventures in the area.

Voyageurs at the Minnesota State Fair – Visit with Voyageurs staff at the Minnesota State Fair August 21 through 23 to meet park experts, enter to win Voyageurs-inspired prizes, and learn about Minnesota’s national park.
Park Merchandise and Prints – Limited-edition Voyageurs 50th merchandise and new art will be available for purchase at Voyageurs.org/shop, including a special park poster created by Northern Minnesota-based artist Sam Zimmerman.

Park Artist-In-Residence Symphony Debut – Composer Marko Bajzer, a recent Voyageurs artist-in-residence, will debut an original symphony orchestra piece, “Sky-Tinted Water,” inspired by the landscapes of Voyageurs. Concerts will take place at venues throughout Minnesota next fall to commemorate the 50th.

Cheers to Minnesota’s Dark Sky Park: Astro-Tourism Events

Celebrate Minnesota’s International Certified Dark Sky Park and the importance of preserving its dark skies through land and water-based activities.

International Dark Sky Week, April 21 - 25 – Explore the wonders of northern Minnesota's night sky at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center with Jesse Gates, a NASA Solar System Ambassador and Conservancy Education Specialist. Join us at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to gaze at awe-inspiring celestial objects and learn about Voyageurs' role in protecting dark skies.
Park-After-Dark Programs, Summer 2025 – The Conservancy will host regular community telescope sessions and expert-led night sky tours with more details announced this spring at voyageurs.org/events.
Voyageurs Star Party, August 29 and 30 – This astronomy event will feature expert speakers from NASA, volunteer astronomers, night sky education sessions, guided night sky canoe and boat tours, telescope sessions and more under the Milky Way. Details will be available soon at voyageurs.org/starparty.
Download the New Voyageurs Dark Sky Visitor Guide – This free guide offers night sky viewing tips, stellar locations for stargazing in Voyageurs, and ways to increase your chances of catching the northern lights.

Cheers to the Future: Nurturing the Next Generation

Through the Voyageurs Classroom initiative, Voyageurs Conservancy, the NPS, and a national network of partners will offer education programming that brings the park to classrooms across the state and nation.

The Voyageurs Mobile Classroom – The eye-catching mobile unit drives education to Minnesota schools, allowing students to explore the natural and cultural wonders of Voyageurs and surrounding nature.
Voyageurs Live Streams – Virtual learning opportunities bring Voyageurs National Park to 40,000+ students nationwide.
Professional Development for Educators – The Conservancy offers retreats, teacher workshops, and resources to help educators bring Minnesota’s National Park into their classrooms.
Field Fellowships – Sponsored by Voyageurs Conservancy, this stipend-paid program allows young conservation leaders to conduct park fieldwork and research, develop education programs, and apply their expertise to preserve public lands.

Teachers can sign-up for the Voyageurs educator newsletter to receive more information and updates on Voyageurs Classroom programs.

Raise a Canteen to 50 Years of Voyageurs National Park

Join us in raising a canteen as we celebrate the park’s past, present and future. On our April 8 birthday and throughout the year, we invite passionate park travelers and supporters to raise a toast to the park’s legacy by sharing stories, memories, and appreciation for Voyageurs on social media using #Voyageurs50.

Follow @VoyageursConservancy on Instagram and Facebook, and join the celebration using #Voyageurs50

Voyageurs National Park is a stunning wilderness of interconnected lakes, rugged cliffs, and boreal forests on the Minnesota - Canadian border.

For thousands of years, the Anishinaabe people have lived on and cared for these lands. Today, these communities continue to protect and shape the landscape through their cultural knowledge and stewardship practices.

Established as a national park in 1975, Voyageurs safeguards over 218,000 acres of pristine wilderness, home to wolves, moose, bald eagles, and some of the oldest exposed rock in North America—over 2.8 billion years old. The park is named after the French-Canadian fur traders, known as "voyageurs," who paddled these waters in massive birchbark canoes during the 1700s.

Today, visitors can explore 655 miles of shoreline, navigate the waters' historic fur trade routes, hike scenic trails, and experience some of the darkest night skies in the country.

All About Voyageurs National Park

We’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy, from the visionaries who established the park to those protecting its beauty today.

50 Years, 50 Legacies