National Geographic Celebrates 125 Years
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, each copy of the January 2013 issue will feature five covers highlighting the Society’s 125th anniversary theme, “A New Age of Exploration.”
The multiple covers will be included in the worldwide English-language edition and in 12 local-language editions and are exclusively supported by Swiss watch brand Rolex. These editions are read by more than 50 million people around the globe, according to National Geographic Society.
The January covers highlight the superlatives of exploration — farthest, wildest, smallest, highest and deepest. The top cover spotlights the farthest reaches of space travel as it looks at “Why We Explore.”
The four additional covers profile other ways exploration is being pushed to the limits: The Wildest focuses on saving Ecuador’s pristine rain forest; the Smallest looks at the invisible world of microbes; the Highest features mountaineer Cory Richards; and the Deepest highlights filmmaker James Cameron’s solo dive to the Mariana Trench.
The “New Age of Exploration” theme will be marked Society-wide throughout 2013, including the National Geographic Channels, website, books, magazines, video and live events. The yearlong initiative has been made possible through a 125th anniversary partnership with Rolex.
National Geographic Channels will premiere a 125th anniversary special, “A New Age of Exploration: National Geographic at 125,” on Friday, Jan. 11, in the United States and globally throughout the month.
An online hub at www.nationalgeographic.com/125 will include special features such as an interactive exploration timeline, videos, interviews and photo galleries updated regularly during the Society’s 12-month focus on the future of exploration.
On June 13, 2013, the 125th anniversary will be celebrated at a “National Geographic Evening of Exploration” gala, where the Society’s top medals and honors will be awarded to explorers and other recipients. All proceeds from the gala will go to National Geographic’s Fund for Exploration.
