These stamps celebrate the 50th anniversary of NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters. They showcase the abundant wildlife, scenic beauty and underwater archaeological treasures found throughout the sanctuary system. Originating with Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, home to the famed Civil War shipwreck USS Monitor, to the latest designation of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary which protects unique Great Lakes resources, each sanctuary offers opportunities to explore and learn. Today, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the U.S. Postal Service hosted a community dedication ceremony at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, California, to celebrate this new stamp series.