Description
What it is
This is a vinyl reproduction of the 1939 Badlands admission window sticker. From 1918 to 1940 the National Park Service issued small adhesive stickers as proof of paid admission, and visitors stuck them on car windshields the way later generations would hang a park-pass tag. Twenty-two parks had their own design, each featuring an animal found in the park, which is why collectors and historians later nicknamed them the “Zoo Stickers.” Ranger Doug Enterprises reproduces the design on modern vinyl.
About the design
The orange octagonal sticker reads “Badlands National Monument” around the rim with the year 1939 across the bottom and a Badlands landscape scene in the center. The 1939 design dates from the area’s monument era; Badlands was redesignated a National Park in 1978, so the period sticker carries the older “National Monument” title.
About Ranger Doug Enterprises
Ranger Doug Enterprises was founded by former National Park Service ranger Doug Leen in Seattle, Washington. Leen restored the full set of 22 surviving 1918-1940 admission-sticker designs and reproduces them along with the WPA-era park posters he is known for. The originals are nearly all gone, so these reproductions are how most collectors get the artwork.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 3″ x 3″
- Weight: 0.1 oz
- Material: durable vinyl with fade-resistant UV ink
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Manufacturer: Ranger Doug Enterprises, Seattle, WA
- Country of origin: USA
Who picks this up
National park sticker collectors, anyone working through Ranger Doug’s full 1918-1940 series, and people who like the period graphic style and want it on a laptop, water bottle, or car window. At 3 inches it layers onto a sticker-covered surface without taking over.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an original 1939 sticker or a reproduction?
A reproduction, printed by Ranger Doug Enterprises. Original 1918-1940 NPS window stickers are extremely rare collector items. The reproduction matches the original artwork and color on modern vinyl with UV-resistant ink.
Why does it say 1939 and “National Monument”?
1939 is the year that NPS design was issued, and Badlands was a National Monument at the time. It was redesignated a National Park in 1978.
What surface does it stick to?
Most smooth surfaces: glass, painted metal, plastic, and powder-coated finishes. Textured surfaces like rough wood or fabric hold less reliably.
Does buying this support Badlands National Park?
Badlands National Park is not a BHPFA partner site; it has its own cooperating association. We carry the historic stickers because they are a related set. Proceeds support BHPFA partner parks and forests, including Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.