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NASHVILLE -- Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will represent Tennessee as one of 56 new quarter-dollar coins honoring national sites. Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Mint will issue the quarters in accordance with the "America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008."

"This honor comes at the perfect time as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the park's dedication," said Bredesen in a press release. "An astounding 10 million visitors from all over the world enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains every year. Now millions more will get to share this significant piece of U.S. history whether they choose to spend it or add it to their coin collections."

Earlier this year, Bredesen submitted his preference of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to represent Tennessee. In a letter to the director of the U.S. Mint, Bredesen said, "Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the State of Tennessee, and Cade's Cove is one of the most significant historic sites in our state as well as the single most popular attraction within the park."

The design phase will now begin for the new quarters, which honor national sites in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The coins will be issued from 2010 through 2022 in the order in which each site was first established as a national site. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park quarter will be released in 2014.