List of National Geographic cover stories (1959 and 1960s)



National Geographic is an American magazine that is noted for its cover stories and accompanying photography. The first photo to appear on the cover of National Geographic was in the July 1959 issue of the magazine. The cover story titled "New Stars for Old Glory" featured the 49-star flag of the United States after Alaska's admission to the Union as a U.S. state, which was signed into law on July 3, 1959, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The article was written by Lonnelle Aikman, with the photograph captured by B. Anthony Stewart.

Throughout the 1960s National Geographic's cover stories showcased global historical events such as the one hundredth Anniversary of the Unification of Italy and America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Cover stories included articles written by notable writers such as Jacques Cousteau, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jane Goodall and Melville Bell Grosvenor. Cover photos were published by notable photographers such as Winfield Parks, Helen and Frank Schreider and twin brothers Frank and John Craighead.

The 1960s saw articles written and photographed at locations around the globe featuring wildlife like the March 1967 issue titled "Snowflake, the World's First White Gorilla", written by Arthur J. Riopelle with a photo on the cover of Snowflake the gorilla, photographed by Paul A. Zahl. Articles featured on the cover of the magazine also included human-interest stories such as "Afghanistan: Crossroads of Conquerors", written and photographed by Thomas J. Abercrombie featuring an Afghan family in the September 1968 issue. Many geographical locations were featured including Mount Everest in the October 1963 article "Six to the Summit", written by Norman Dyhrenfurth with photographs by mountaineer Barry C. Bishop.

In the December 1969 issue, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins wrote the cover story titled "First Explorers on the Moon", writing in detail their account of the Apollo 11 mission and what it was like being the first humans on the Moon. The photo on the cover of the magazine featured a picture taken from space by Armstrong, that of Aldrin in a spacesuit on the surface of the Moon.

1959
Only five issues were published in 1959 with photos on the cover.