PORT ANGELES — More than 600 collected at City Pier this morning to view ceremonies launching the new Olympic National Park quarter coin.
Many in the audience were schoolchildren who were given a field trip from Port Angeles schools. And as a reward, Olympic National Park Superintendent and First Federal employees handed out souvenir 25-cent pieces.
If you want an ONP quarter, you have to pay for it: They’re available at First Federal as well as at Olympic National Park visitor centers and other locations where change is made.
Earlier report:
PORT ANGELES — Bring your greenbacks to the Port Angeles City Pier today to exchange for rolls of Olympic National Park quarters, the U.S. Mint says.
People can trade paper cash for new 25-cent coins that depict a Roosevelt elk standing on a gravel river bar of the Hoh River with a view of Mount Olympus in the background.
A ceremonial dedication for the Olympic National Park coin — the eighth in a series of 56 that honor national parks and other national sites in the 12-year America the Beautiful Quarters Program — begins at 11 a.m. at the City Pier at the foot of Lincoln Street.
The coin exchange will follow the ceremony.
Olympic National Park spokesman Dave Reynolds said he expects a crowd of more than 1,000 at the unveiling.
“We have over 300 local students confirmed to attend,” Reynolds said. “There’s a huge chunk right there.”
Students from the Port Angeles elementary schools — and everyone 18 and younger — will receive a free Olympic National Park quarter, the U.S. Mint announced last week.
Featured speakers at the event will include Gov. Chris Gregoire’s husband, Mike Gregoire, U.S. Mint Associate Director for Sales and Marketing B.B. Craig, Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin and Seattle TV meteorologist Jeff Renner, who will emcee the event.
A jazz band from Stevens Middle School will perform, Reynolds said.
City of Port Angeles spokeswoman Teresa Pierce said the city is not involved in the ceremony.
“There may be some City Council members there,” she said.
Likewise, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Events Director and Webmaster Vanessa Fuller said the chamber is not directly involved.
“It’s mainly between the park and the U.S. Mint,” Fuller said. “The Mint seems to have control over what’s going on.”
The red-coated Port Angeles Regional Chamber Ambassadors will be among the attendees. Fuller said she has offered to help.
“We had already planned to be in attendance,” Fuller said. “I think it will be a great midday turnout.”
Representatives from the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe will be among the VIP guests at the ceremony, Reynolds said.
After the ceremony, the new quarters will be given to visitors as change at Olympic National Park entrance stations.
Five new quarters are released every year in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
