Established on March 14, 1903, by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was the first official wildlife refuge in the United States.  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 1903 Pelican Island was the last breeding ground for brown pelicans along the entire east coast of Florida.

Today, in addition to the three acres of Pelican Island, the refuge also encompasses 5,377 acres consisting largely of submerged land, mangrove islands, marshes and maritime hammocks (raised, fertile areas usually occupied by hardwood vegetation).  Hundreds of species of birds, fish, plants and mammals live within the refuge, including some that have been listed by the federal government as threatened or endangered.

The National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 93 million acres across more than 570 national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts.  At least one can be found in every state and U.S. territory.

The stamp features a photograph by James Brandt of a brown pelican.  The other North American species of pelican, the American white pelican, can be found within the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge during winter.  Carl T. Herrman was the art director for this stamp.