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Story of Smokey

Explore Smokey Bear’s History

Smokey Bear leans on his mailbox and reads a letter.

Since 1944, Smokey’s been working hard to inspire Americans to prevent wildfires. Follow his history here through memorabilia and print, radio and TV messages.

1941
1941: One of the first Forest Fire Prevention Campaign posters
Men are shoveling dirt to put out a wildfire. The poster reads "Forest defense is national defense."
1944
1944: Pre-Smokey Forest Fire Prevention Poster
A picture of Bambi, Flower, and Thumper reads "Please, mister, don't be careless. Prevent forest fires, greater danger than ever!"
1944: Smokey's first appareance on a Forest Fire Prevention campaign poster
A poster of Smokey pouring water on a fire reads "Smokey says - Care will prevent 9 out of 10 woods fires!"
1945
1945: Stamps
A squirrel on a stamp says "Another enemy to conquer. Forest fires."
1946
1946: Stamps
Poster reads "Prevent forest fires! Use the ash tray."
1946: Stamps
Poster reads "Prevent forest fires! Crush out your cigarette."
1946: Posters
Smokey Bear points to a chalkboard of a hand holding a match. The poster reads "Smokey Says...hold 'til it's cold...prevent forest fires."
1947
1947: Stamps
A poster reads "please folks, be extra careful this year!"
1947: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
Poster reads "Prevent forest fires! Put your pipe ashes in bare earth."
1947: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp that reads "Please folks, be extra careful this year!"
1948
1948: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp of Smokey Bear praying saying "...and please make people careful, amen."
1949
1949: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp that reads "Another 30 million acres will burn this year - unless you are careful."
1949: Campaign to Prevent Forest, Woods, and Range Fires
Smokey stands with his mouth open and some other forest animals. The poster reads "Another 30 million acres will burn this year. Remember only you can prevent forest fires."
1950
1950: Art Linkletter Radio Commercial
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1950: Ward Bond Radio Commercial
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1950: Posters
A poster featuring Smokey Bear reads "You can stop this shameful waste."
1950: Ladies Home Journal
Smokey Bear is featured on Ladies Home Journal in 1950.
1950: Bing Crosby Radio Commercial
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1950: Roy Rogers Radio Commercial
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1950: Dale Robertson Radio Commercial
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1950: James Arness Radio Commercial
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1950: Clint Walker Radio Commercial
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1952
1952: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A poster that reads "Smokey Says Prevent Forest Fires!"
1953
1953: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp reads "Promise you will help prevent forest fires!"
1953: Posters
A poster that reads, "Promise that you will be careful with matches, smokes, camp fires, and any fire. Remember - Only you can prevent Forest Fires!"
1953: Posters
A poster that reads "Please...help people be more careful!" with Smokey Bear holding his hat over his heart looking up.
1953: Posters
One Careless Match
1953: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp reads Pledge Your Help! Prevent Forest Fires!
1954
1954: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A stamp reads Pledge Your Help! Prevent Forest Fires!
1958
1958: Golden Smokey Award
Judy Bell receiving a 1957 Golden Smokey for "The Children of America" from President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1959
1959: Posters
Smokey Bear and his forest friends hold up some posters in the forest. They read "Break your matches, crush your smokes," "Drown your campfires," "Be careful with every fire."
1959: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A poster depicting Smokey Bear, his shovel, and a bear cub. It reads "The true story of Smokey Bear."
1959: Posters
A poster depicting Smokey Bear wrapping some gauze on a bear cub's paw. It reads"Why? Remember only you can prevent forest fires."
1960
1960: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
Two stamps are side by side. There is a red stamp that reads "why?" The second stamp is green and reads "Remember.. only you can prevent forest fires."
1960: Barbara Stanwyck Radio Commercial
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1960: Broderick Crawford Radio Commercial
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1960: Billy Gray Radio Commercial
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1960: Willard Waterman Radio Commercial
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1960: Walter Brennan Radio Commercial
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1960: Dinah Shore Radio Commercial
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1961
1961: Smokey Bear 20th Anniversary
Smokey Bear 20th year anniversary poster.
1962
1962: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
Two stamps are side by side. There is an orange stamp that reads "I promise not to play matches." The second stamp is green and reads "Prevent forest fires."
1962: The Smokey Bear Story
Smokey Bear points to a chalkboard that reads "The Smokey Bear Story."
1964
1964: Posters
A poster depicting Smokey playing with building blocks reads "always hold matches 'til cold. Be sure to drown all fires. Crush all smokes dead out. Follow Smokey's ABCs. Please! Only you can prevent wildfires."
1966
1966: Posters
A poster depicting Smokey that reads "always hold matches 'til cold. Be sure to drown all fires. Crush all smokes dead out. Follow Smokey's ABCs. Please! Only you can prevent wildfires."
1967
1967: Thanks Folks
A Smokey Bear Poster nailed onto a tree in the woods reads "Thanks, Folks!"
1968
1968: U.S. & State Forest Services Stamp
A poster is broken up into four squares. The first depicts Smokey and reads "Only you can prevent wildfires." The second depicts a match and reads "Use fire carefully." The third depicts Smokey tipping his hat and reads "thanks folks, for being careful." The fourth image depicts two boys playing baseball and reads "Smokey's friends don't play with matches."
1968: Kukla and Ollie
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1968: Rod Serling
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1969
1969: Bomb in the Forest
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1969: The Deadliest Animal
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1970
1970: Register & Complaint
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1970: Slow Burn
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1971
1971: Smokey Bear Poster
A poster of Smokey breaking a large match over his knee reads "Smokey's friends don't play with matches."
1971: Wrist Watch
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1971: Burning Picture
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1972
1972: Whose Garden Was This
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1972: Burning Drawing
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1973
1973: Babes in the Woods
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1973: America the Ugly
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1973: Jonathan Winters
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1973: If you Knew it was Me...
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1974
1974: Thanks from All of Us
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1974: Cub Scouts / Brownies
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1974: Matchbook
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1974: Poster
A poster of Smokey reads "Think."
1975
1975: Poster
A poster depicting Smokey tipping his hat reads "Thanks for listening."
1975: The Chipmunks Radio Commercial
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1975: As You Know...
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1975: Great Americans
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1975: Smokey Works Hard...
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1975: The Forest Is Still Here
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1975: Great Americans Radio Commercial
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1975: America the Ugly Radio Commercial
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1975: Ray Charles Radio Commercial
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1975: Forest Legend Radio Commercial
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1976
1976: Poster
A poster featuring Smokey reads "It's a grand old forest, too! Be careful."
1976: Happy Birthday Radio Commercial
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1976: Causes
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1976: Burning Match
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1976: Smokey Bear Stickers
Smokey's Friends
1977
1977: Only You
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1978
1978: Poster
A poster of Smokey reads "If not you, who?"
1978: Rita Racoon
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1978: Dummy
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1979
1979: Because of You
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1979: Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires
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1980
1980: Junior Forest Ranger Handbook
Junior Forest Ranger
1980: Reasoning Radio Commercial
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1980: Painted Matches
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1980: Painted Matches
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1980: You're Among Friends
1980: Poster
A poster depicts Smokey Bear and other forest animals. It reads "remember you're among friends."
1981
1981: City Tree
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1982
1982: Poster
Think Poster
1983
1983: Poster
Think Before You Strike
1983: Happy 40th Birthday
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1983: Man Discovered Fire
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1983: Ray Charles
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1984
1984: Poster
A red poster featuring Smokey reads "close the book on forest fires."
1984: Poster
A poster depicting Smokey holding a cake for his 40th anniversary. The poster reads "Make Smokey's birthday wish come true."
1985
1985: Poster
A poster featuring Smokey Bear reads "Only You!"
1985: B.B. King Radio Commercial
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1985: Cheech and Chong Radio Commercial
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1985: The Grateful Dead Radio Commercial
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1985: Happy Birthday Animals Radio Commercial
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1985: Spock Radio Commercial
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1985: Being Careless with Fire...
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1987
1987: Poster
A poster depicting Smokey using binoculars to inspect a forest fire. It reads "only you can prevent forest fires."
1987: Barbara Mandrell Radio Commercial
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1988
1988: We've Always Wondered...
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1989
1989: Do Trees Think?
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1990
1990: Animal Faces
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1990: Animal Faces (kids)
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1991
1991: Bluegrass Radio Commercial
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1991: Ted Nugent Radio Commercial
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1991: Cigarette Butt
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1992
1992: Bookmark
A poster reads "Repeat after me, "only you...""
1992: Hello
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1993
1993: Birthday Candles Radio Commercial
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1993: Force of Habit
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1993: Birthday Children Radio Commercial
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1994
1994: Posters
Smokey and his animal friends put up a sign in the forest that reads "Remember...only you can prevent forest fires."
1994: Posters
A 50th anniversary poster shows Smokey Bear and Snoopy celebrating at Camp Snoopy. The poster reads "All together now...only you can prevent forest fires for the next fifty years!"
1995
1995: Posters
A poster depicting Smokey Bear and some other forest animals reads "Our family...depends on your family."
1995: Over 2 million acres...
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1995: We Know We Can Count on You
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1995: Smokey Bear Says
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1995: Every Second of Every Minute of Every Day
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1995: Wildfire - Over 2 million...
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2000
2000: Ranger & Deer Radio Commercial
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2001
2001: Posters
A poster depicts a bird's nest and reads 'The only fire insurance this home has is you."
2001: Posters
A poster depicts a match box and substitutes the matches for trees. It reads "Think before you strike."
2004
2004: Posters
A poster of fingers wrapped in Band-Aids reads "Be careful!"
2004: Posters
A poster of a shovel wrapped like a birthday present to honor Smokey Bear's birthday.
2004: Posters
A poster of trees in a forest reads "Unfortunately, they can't run for their lives."
2004: Posters
A poster depicting a forest reads "The most dangerous animals in the forest don't live here."
2004: Posters
A poster asks to insert your name and pledge that "Only [Name] can insert wildfires."
2011
2011: Only You Full Page Magazine Ad
A poster reads "Get your Smokey on: only you can prevent wildfires."
2011: Only You Billboard
A billboard ad reads "Only you can prevent wildfires!"
2011: 9 out of 10 Bus Shelter
A poster reads "9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans."
2013
2013: Badges
A few badges come together to read "Only you can prevent wildfires."
2013: Ghost Flames
Sobre la imagen de unas brasas echando humo se lee:  "Solo porque parezca que se apagó, no significa que esté apagado".
2017
2017: Burning Debris
Cartel de el oso Smokey recogiendo escombros que dice: "La seguridad es fundamental al quemar basura de tu patio".
2017: Hot Coals
Cartel de el oso Smokey ante un asador que dice: "Haz que tu objetivo sea apagar las brasas".
2017: Fire Pit
Cartel de el oso Smokey ante una fogata que dice: "Mantén tu sensatez alrededor de un fogata".
2017:  Lit Extinguish It
Cartel de el oso Smokey ante una fogata explicándole a dos ositos: ¡No lo dejes encendido, apágalo!".
2019
2019: For the Love of the Outdoors
Cartel que dice: "Evita los incendios forestales, por amor al aire libre".
2019: Love Thy Neighborhood
Cartel  que dice: "Quiere a tu vecindario. Ayuda a prevenir los incendios forestales".
2020
2020: Radio: Smokey 75 - Betty White
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2020: Radio: Smokey 75 - Stephen Colbert
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2020: Radio: Smokey 75 - Jeff Foxworthy
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2020: Radio: Smokey 75 - Al Roker
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2020: Smokey 75 - Betty White
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2020: Smokey 75 - Stephen Colbert
2020: Billboard
A billboard of Smokey the Bear saying "Grasslands are Great Lands. Help Prevent Wildfires."
2020: Smokey 75 - Jeff Foxworthy
2020: Billboard
A billboard of Smokey the Bear saying "Love Thy Neighborhood. Help Prevent Wildfires."
2020: Billboard
A billboard of Smokey saying "From the Mountains to the Valleys. Help Prevent Wildfires."
2020: Billboard
A Billboard of Smokey the Bear saying "Protect America's Heartland. Help Prevent Wildfires."
2020: Billboard
A billboard of Smokey the Bear saying "Protect the Wetlands, Woodlands & Wildlife. Prevent Wildfires."
2020: Billboard
A billboard of Smokey the Bear saying "Let's Keep This Land Grand. Only You Can Prevent Wildfires."
2021
2021: Radio: Smokey 75 - Isabella Gomez
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2023
2023: Smokey is Within - Friends (:30)
2023: Smokey is Within - Geared Up Granny (:30)
2023: Smokey is Within - Avoid Sparks (0:30 Radio)
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2023: Smokey is Within - Campfire (0:30 Radio)
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2023: Smokey is Within - Campfire
Person with a bucket of water near their campfire, Smokey's reflection appears in the water on the ground. Text reads "Smokey Bear is within us all. For wildfire prevention tips, visit SmokeyBear.com"
2023: Smokey is Within - Hot Coals
Person properly disposing of hot coals from a grill. Smokey appears in the reflection of the car in front of them. Text reads "Smokey Bear is within us all. For wildfire prevention tips, visit SmokeyBear.com"
2024
2024: Decades (2:20)
2024: Decades (:60)
2024: Decades (:30) Radio
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2024: Smokey's 80th Birthday - 1950s
Smokey standing next to campers sitting near a fire, text reads 80 years of preventing wildfires together
2024: Smokey's 80th Birthday - 1970s
Smokey standing next to a car with a travel trailer attached, text reads 80 years of preventing wildfires together
2024: Smokey's 80th Birthday - 1980s
Smokey standing next to campers, text reads "80 years of preventing wildfires together"