First 2019 America the Beautiful Quarter Honors Lowell National Historical Park

By Office of Corporate Communications
February 7, 2019

In this video, Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill discusses her work on the Lowell National Historical Park Quarter.

The Lowell High School Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors, Lowell High School Senior Class President Eunice Tabea led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Lowell High School Chorus sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

To highlight the Women and Work theme, Lowell National Historical Park invited several female community leaders to emcee the event, including Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue, Chief Executive Officer of Community Teamwork, Inc. Karen Frederick, Executive Director of Coalition for a Better Acre Yun-Ju Choi, Chancellor of UMass Lowell Jacqueline Moloney, and the Superintendent of Lowell National Historical Park Celeste Bernardo.

The audience was treated to a performance by the Lowell High School Band playing “Mills on the Merrimack” while a video story of mill girls played on the projector screen. Former U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas addressed the audience, along with the Deputy Regional Director for the National Park Service Northeast Region Rosalyn Fennell.

Representing the United States Mint, Acting Associate Director Marc Landry spoke about the significance of the quarter’s design. “The depiction of the mill girl takes us back to the past at the forefront of America’s Industrial Revolution. The physical coin takes us to present day manufacturing processes; and finally, the coin in its entirety takes us into the future—inspiring tomorrow’s innovators, workforce and generations to follow.”

Landry presented the National Park Service with the traditional shadowbox containing quarters from the first day of production from both Philadelphia and Denver. He also participated in the ceremonial coin pour with Superintendent Bernardo, Congresswoman Tsongas and Deputy Regional Director Fennell, pouring quarters into a water wheel emptying into an authentic steam trunk.

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Massachusetts, was on site for the coin exchange following the launch ceremony. The line stretched around the auditorium, with Jeanne D’Arc exchanging $24,000 in quarters in less than an hour.

The U.S. Mint also hosted a coin forum with near record attendance of 103 people on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center.

See more Inside the Mint articles.