This ornament was created by Eatonville, Washington, artist Dale Thompson, how had a long career with the National Park Service before retiring as Mount Rainier's chief naturalist in 1981.

The ornament depicts the traditional iconic mountain scene of Paradise meadows and the Muir snowfield taken from Mazama Ridge. A self-described bird nut, Thompson also included on the back side of the ornament images of two colorful bird species found in the park – the western tanager and the Steller’s jay perched on white pine boughs.

Thompson prepared the golden globe with a base matte finish of Krylon spray, painted it white, then used acrylic paints to complete the image. A finishing coat of gloss Krylon spray was applied to preserve the paint finish and provide shine.