National Geographic Day

National Geographic is something we take for granted, which is not surprising considering that it has been around for well over 100 years.

The first issue of the magazine was published in 1888, and National Geographic Magazines have been published regularly, once per month, since then.

National Geographic Magazine has covered thousands of topics since its inception, from lovely, peaceful Balinese dancers to controversial topics such as the brutal killing of animals by poachers and those convinced of the magical properties of certain animal parts.

For almost 130 years, National Geographic magazine has been awakening people’s interest in far away, unknown countries, their foods and customs, and above all, those who live there, both human and not.

And this is of course why National Geographic is more than deserving of its own day!

How to Celebrate National Geographic Day

Find Vintage National Geographic Magazines

National Geographic Magazines have attained nearly cult status over the years, meaning that even an old, dog-eared issue is considered a collector’s item.

In that spirit, why not take a trip down to your local thrift store or second-hand bookstore and see if you can find any old National Geographic Magazines?

Who knows, they could be worth something someday, and even if they’re not, it will be a truly interesting experience to leaf through an old issue and see what was relevant back in the days when it was published.

Take Some Photographs

Another interesting way to send this day would be to take your own camera out for a spin—who knows what you’ll manage to catch, and maybe you’ll discover a hidden talent as well?

Even if you do not discover that you’re not quite Anne Geddes or Annie Leibovitz, you may at least find a new hobby, something you truly enjoy doing and would like to continue pursuing.

If you have children, taking them with you and teaching them how to spot the art present in each and every little thing could prove an extremely fascinating and valuable lesson for them in the future as well.

Not to mention that no child has ever been worse off for a lesson on how beautiful the world is and how much it should be appreciated and respected.

Admire National Geographic Photos

You can also spend time looking online at some of the best photographs that have been taken by National Geographic.

You will find that a lot of online magazines and social media accounts highlight their favorite National Geographic shots to pay tribute to the magazine on National Geographic Day, so you should not find it too difficult to hunt down some awe-inspiring photos that will really captivate your imagination.

Make sure you share your finds with your friends, followers, and family members on social media too so that they can enjoy them.

Research Common Topics

You can also spend some time on National Geographic Day researching the topics that the magazine often publishes about.

For example, why not spend some time finding out about different animals, cultures, and history across the world? This is the perfect excuse to broaden your knowledge and to learn about topics that you may not usually spend much time reading about.

We would recommend searching the magazine on social media as well, as there are going to be a lot of people that tag National Geographic with interesting content on this day, including content from past issues as well.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure this day is a day you take a moment to admire the world around you, from the smallest things in it to the most enormous…and if you can teach the future generation to do that as well, more power to you.

Our planet could use more people who have the same approach to our planet as National Geographic Magazine.

Learn About National Geographic Day

National Geographic Day is a day for us to pay tribute to the incredible National Geographic Magazine, which is also sometimes referred to as NAT GEO.

This magazine has been going strong for many years now — over three decades!

It originally contains articles about world culture, history, geography, and science. It is known for having a glossy format, a rectangular and bright yellow border, and some of the most incredible and dramatic photographs. Since 2019, The Walt Disney Company has had a controlling interest in the magazine.

This magazine is published on a month-by-month basis. Subscriptions are available, and members will receive extra map supplements.

As is the case with most traditional print media today, national Geographic has evolved. It is still available in the printed version, yet there is also an online edition, which is interactive.

A lot of people prefer to collect the printed versions, though. Now and again, there are special editions of the magazine that are run, so it is definitely worth keeping an eye out for these!

National Geographic has won a number of awards over the years. In 2020, it won the News & Magazines Webby Award for the category Apps, Mobile & Voice. It also received a National Magazine Award in 2017 for having the best website.

Rolling the clock further back, the magazine has won the American Society of Magazine Editors’ General Excellence Award a number of times, including in 2007, 2006, and 2011. It also won three National Magazine Awards in 2008.

When you take this into account, it is really not hard to see the impact that this magazine has had, and so we definitely feel that it is more than deserving of a day of its own!

History of National Geographic Day

National Geographic Magazine was created as a text-oriented publication by the National Geographic society in 1888.

Due to the popularity of the segments containing numerous pictures, National Geographic magazine quickly switched to extensive pictorial content.

National Geographic Magazine became especially famous for its balanced portrayal of North America compared to the countries behind the iron curtain, downplaying politics to focus on culture, and not avoiding the Cold War topic as many publications tended to do at that time.

More recently, National Geographic Magazine has been especially outspoken on environmental issues, such as deforestation and endangered species.

National Geographic Magazine has also been praised for its beautiful photography and its book-like quality. This day was founded with the purpose of showing appreication for the way the magazine can bring the entire world into almost anyone’s living room.

Facts About National Geographic

Founding of the National Geographic Society  

The National Geographic Society was founded on January 13, 1888, in Washington, D.C., by 33 geographers, explorers, and scholars aiming “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge.”

It has grown to be one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. 

National Geographic Magazine’s Photography Legacy  

Since the early 20th century, National Geographic magazine has been renowned for its innovation in photojournalism, integrating vivid, full-color photographs that captured the imagination of its readers and set a standard for visual storytelling.

Jane Goodall’s Research Supported by National Geographic 

National Geographic played an instrumental role in supporting Jane Goodall’s pioneering study of chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park, providing funding that enabled her long-term research beginning in the 1960s.  

Expeditions and Discoveries Supported

The Society has sponsored over 5,000 major expeditions and investigative studies, such as Robert E. Peary’s polar expedition and Hiram Bingham’s excavations of Machu Picchu, greatly contributing to geographic and archaeological knowledge.  

Influence of the Grosvenor family on National Geographic  

The leadership and vision of the Grosvenor family, beginning with Gilbert H. Grosvenor, shaped National Geographic’s direction and success.

Their influence spanned generations, marking distinctive contributions to the Society’s reputation for scientific and educational excellence.