Explore Smokey Bear’s History
![Smokey Bear leans on his mailbox and reads a letter.](https://adcouncil-campaigns.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d09acb8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/200x200!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fad-council-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fad-council-campaigns%2F27%2Fd5%2F0e888be0497f8942df226b397dfc%2Fsmokeys-history.jpg)
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.
![A poster featuring Smokey Bear reads "You can stop this shameful waste."](https://adcouncil-campaigns.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7da775e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/491x700+0+0/resize/238x340!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fad-council-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fad-council-campaigns%2F33%2F55%2Fd2033e0f422bb7fb1477406f693f%2Fshamefulwaste-1.jpg)
![A poster that reads "Please...help people be more careful!" with Smokey Bear holding his hat over his heart looking up.](https://adcouncil-campaigns.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/387770e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/489x700+0+0/resize/238x340!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fad-council-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fad-council-campaigns%2Fcf%2Fd8%2Fe2d215954f3c9789c5349d33f2c7%2Fhelppeoplebemorecareful.jpg)
![One Careless Match](https://adcouncil-campaigns.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ceb6ceb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/483x700+0+0/resize/235x340!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fad-council-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fad-council-campaigns%2F4d%2F71%2F3cb6723e49c681e7850afbe799c9%2Fonecarelessmatch.jpg)
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.