Description

What is the Smokey Bear Benchmark Magnet?

A small, heavy cast-metal magnet shaped like a USGS survey benchmark disc, with Smokey Bear’s face and the “only YOU can prevent wildfires” message at the center. It’s made by Impact Photographics and carries the official Smokey Bear licensing mark, which matters if you care about whether a penny of this actually goes back to the Forest Service program.

Smokey Bear is the face of the longest-running public service campaign in US history. The campaign started in 1944, during World War II, when the US Forest Service needed a recognizable character to warn against human-caused wildfires on the home front. In 1950, firefighters pulled a real black bear cub out of a burned tree in New Mexico’s Capitan Mountains, and that cub lived at the National Zoo for 26 years as the living mascot of the program. The benchmark design on this magnet is a nod to the survey discs you find embedded in rocks and concrete at trailheads across the National Forest system.

Specifications

• Diameter: 1 3/4 inches
• Weight: about 1.6 oz
• Material: cast metal, full magnetic backing
• Style: benchmark survey-disc round
• Licensing: officially licensed Smokey Bear
• Manufacturer: Impact Photographics (Petaluma, CA)
• Care: wipe clean with a dry cloth; keep away from sensitive electronics and credit cards

Who is this for?

Hikers and collectors who already recognize survey benchmarks in the wild and get a small kick every time they spot one. Parents and grandparents who grew up with Smokey Bear ads and want to pass the message along. Forest Service employees, wildland firefighters, and volunteers who want a desk or filing-cabinet reminder of who they work for. It also makes a good small gift or stocking stuffer that isn’t another keychain.

Frequently asked questions

Is this officially licensed Smokey Bear merchandise?
Yes. It carries the official Smokey Bear licensing mark. A portion of the wholesale price goes back to the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program, which is the federal program Smokey Bear represents.

Who makes it?
Impact Photographics, a Petaluma, California souvenir maker that supplies hundreds of national-park, forest, and monument gift shops across the country. Impact designs the art; BHPFA sells the finished piece at its Black Hills National Forest store locations and online.

Why is it called a “benchmark” magnet?
A benchmark in the hiking and surveying sense is a small brass or bronze disc set into rock or concrete at a known elevation. The US Geological Survey placed thousands of them at summits, overlooks, and trail junctions over the last century. This magnet copies that round, stamped disc shape. If you’ve ever spotted a USGS benchmark at the top of a peak and snapped a photo of it, you’ll recognize the nod.

Is the magnet strong enough to hold paper?
Yes. The full metal back and solid casting give it real weight compared to printed vinyl magnets, so it holds a few sheets of paper against a standard refrigerator or filing cabinet without slipping.

Will it scratch my fridge or car?
The back is smooth magnet sheet, not bare metal, so it behaves like a normal fridge magnet. On a painted car tailgate we’d still recommend a clean surface and a test spot first, the same as with any metal souvenir magnet.

Does buying this support Smokey Bear’s work?
Yes, two ways. The Smokey Bear licensing fee goes back to the national fire-prevention campaign. And proceeds from your BHPFA purchase stay in the region. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.

Can I get this at a BHPFA store in person?
This is a Black Hills National Forest item, so you’ll find it at the Mystic Ranger District visitor contact station and at select BHPFA partner locations. Inventory rotates, so if you want one in hand on a specific date, order online or call ahead.