National Monument (United States)

National Monument (United States)
Name	National Monument
Photo caption	Devils Tower in Wyoming, designated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
Location	United States
Established	September 24, 1906
Governing body	National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management

National Monument (United States). A United States national monument is a protected area designated by the President of the United States through the Antiquities Act of 1906 or by an act of the United States Congress. These monuments preserve landmarks, structures, and objects of historic or scientific interest situated on lands owned or controlled by the federal government. While often managed for conservation and public enjoyment, they can encompass a diverse array of resources, from vast archaeological sites and natural wonders to significant cultural landmarks.

Definition and legal basis

The primary legal authority for creating national monuments is the Antiquities Act of 1906, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt. This act grants the president the power to proclaim "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" as national monuments, provided they are situated on federal lands. The act was a response to concerns about looting at archaeological sites in the Southwestern United States, such as those at Mesa Verde. The scope of the act has been broadly interpreted over time, allowing for the protection of enormous natural areas like Katmai National Monument in Alaska and significant marine environments like the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. While presidential proclamations are most common, Congress can also establish national monuments through legislation, as it did with the Fort Sumter National Monument and the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

History and development

The first use of the Antiquities Act was by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower in Wyoming. Early monuments were typically cultural or archaeological sites, such as Montezuma Castle in Arizona and El Morro National Monument in New Mexico. The scope expanded dramatically under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and later, presidents like Jimmy Carter used the act to protect vast tracts in Alaska through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw the designation of large landscape-scale monuments, such as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument proclaimed by President Bill Clinton and Bears Ears National Monument established by President Barack Obama. The National Park Service, created in 1916, became the primary manager of many of these sites, though other agencies also have jurisdiction.

Designation process

The presidential designation process under the Antiquities Act is unilateral and does not require approval from the United States Congress or state governments, though consultation often occurs. Typically, a proposal originates from local communities, tribal nations, conservation groups, or federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. The president reviews the proposal and, if deemed to have significant historic or scientific value, issues a proclamation defining the boundaries and purposes of the monument. Congressional designations follow the standard legislative process, involving introduction of a bill, committee review, and votes in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. These legislative monuments, such as the First State National Historical Park, are often created to ensure permanent protection through a more deliberative, bipartisan process.

Management and administration

National monuments are administered by one of four federal agencies: the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of Land Management. The managing agency is specified in the proclamation or legislation. Management objectives focus on protecting the monument's specific resources, which can range from fragile ecosystems to ancient cliff dwellings. For example, the U.S. Forest Service manages the Giant Sequoia National Monument to protect groves of Sequoiadendron giganteum, while the National Park Service oversees the intricate preservation of artifacts at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in partnership with the Navajo Nation.

Notable examples

Notable national monuments demonstrate the diversity of protected resources. Statue of Liberty National Monument and Fort McHenry National Monument preserve iconic symbols of American history. Natural wonders include the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon and the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. Significant archaeological monuments encompass Casa Grande Ruins in Arizona and Poverty Point in Louisiana. Large landscape monuments, such as the Mojave Trails National Monument in California and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean, protect extensive ecological and geological features. The Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument highlight the use of the act for marine conservation.

Controversies and issues

The use of the Antiquities Act has frequently sparked controversy, primarily over the unilateral power of the president and potential impacts on local land use. Designations like Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument have faced opposition from state governments, such as those in Utah, and industries like mining and grazing. Legal challenges often question the "objects" being protected and the size of reservations, as seen in cases involving Jackson Hole National Monument. More recently, the reduction in size of Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante by the Trump administration led to significant legal and political debate, with subsequent restoration by the Biden administration. Ongoing issues include balancing conservation with recreational use, respecting tribal sovereignty and cultural resources, and managing monuments designated in offshore waters.

Category:National monuments of the United States Category:Protected areas of the United States Category:Conservation in the United States