HAGERMAN, Idaho, May 18, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- U-Haul today announced the release of 1,800 new 26-foot moving vans showcasing Idaho's Hagerman Horse. The Hagerman Horse was a precursor of the modern horse and galloped across the land more than 3 million years ago along the shores of the now extinct Lake Idaho.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3753
At 6 p.m. on Friday, May 25, U-Haul will officially unveil the Idaho SuperGraphic as its "Venture Across America" Campaign visits Coltharp Park in Hagerman, Idaho. The unveiling will kick off the opening ceremonies for this year's Hagerman Fossil Days Celebration. The ceremony and U-Haul giveaways are free. The opening activities will also include carnival rides, wine and cheese tasting and karaoke. For more information about joining the celebration, contact Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument at (208) 837-4793.
With horses lying at the heart of one of North America's greatest mysteries, the uncovering of ancient, mysterious bones from the animal dubbed the "Hagerman Horse" was an extremely important find. It proved to be the largest sample of this extinct species from one locality and is the oldest known representative of the genus Equus, which now includes all modern horses, donkeys and zebras.
"We are thrilled to partner with Hagerman Fossil Beds to educate the public about this ancient animal, now Idaho's state fossil, that provided scientists clues to what the land was like more than 3 million years ago," stated Doug McIntier, president, U-Haul Company of Idaho. "Now, people all over will have the privilege of seeing America's first horse, as it comes to life and rides with U-Haul across North America on the sides of our moving vans."
"The National Park Service is very pleased that U-Haul has chosen the Hagerman Horse image as part of its 'Venture Across America' Campaign," stated Neil King, Superintendent, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. "Preserving the Hagerman fossils for future generations is our primary mission and having the Hagerman Horse displayed on vehicles traveling our roadways is a great opportunity for all Americans to learn about this special place in Idaho."
U-Haul has been decorating its moving trucks with vibrant images featuring distinctive features of every U.S. state and Canadian province since 1988 with the launch of the "America's Moving Adventure" and "Canada's Moving Adventure" SuperGraphics Campaigns. The newest graphics are part of the "Venture Across America" Campaign that highlights little-known facts about North America. Nearly 200 different images have been created since the SuperGraphics Program began. They can be viewed online by visiting www.uhaul.com/supergraphics.
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the undisputed choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 15,400 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to more than 93,000 trucks, 80,675 trailers and 33,500 towing devices. As a result, U-Haul offers more than 380,000 rooms and more than 33.5 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,050 facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as the nation's largest retailer of propane.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
