History National Monument (United States)

frank boss pinkley, supt. of southwestern national monuments, 1934

the antiquities act of 1906 resulted concerns protecting prehistoric native american ruins , artifacts (collectively termed antiquities ) on federal lands in american west. act authorized permits legitimate archaeological investigations , penalties taking or destroying antiquities without permission. additionally, authorized president proclaim historic landmarks, historic , prehistoric structures, , other objects of historic or scientific interest on federal lands national monuments, limits of in cases shall confined smallest area compatible proper care , management of objects protected.

the reference in act objects of...scientific interest enabled president theodore roosevelt make natural geological feature, devils tower in wyoming, first national monument 3 months later. among next 3 monuments proclaimed in 1906 petrified forest in arizona, natural feature.

in 1908, roosevelt used act proclaim more 800,000 acres (3,200 km) of grand canyon national monument.

in 1918, president woodrow wilson proclaimed katmai national monument in alaska, comprising more 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km). katmai later enlarged 2,800,000 acres (11,000 km) subsequent antiquities act proclamations , many years largest national park system unit. petrified forest, grand canyon, , katmai among many national monuments later converted national parks congress.

in response roosevelt s declaration of grand canyon monument, putative mining claimant sued in federal court, claiming roosevelt had overstepped antiquities act authority protecting entire canyon. in 1920, united states supreme court ruled unanimously grand canyon indeed object of historic or scientific interest , protected proclamation, setting precedent use of antiquities act preserve large areas. federal courts have since rejected every challenge president s use of antiquities act preservation authority, ruling law gives president exclusive discretion on determination of size , nature of objects protected.

substantial opposition did not materialize until 1943, when president franklin d. roosevelt proclaimed jackson hole national monument in wyoming. did accept donation of lands acquired john d. rockefeller, jr., addition grand teton national park after congress had declined authorize park expansion. roosevelt s proclamation unleashed storm of criticism use of antiquities act circumvent congress. bill abolishing jackson hole national monument passed congress vetoed roosevelt, , congressional , court challenges proclamation authority mounted. in 1950, congress incorporated of monument grand teton national park, act doing barred further use of proclamation authority in wyoming except areas of 5,000 acres or less.

the substantial use of proclamation authority came in 1978, when president jimmy carter proclaimed 15 new national monuments in alaska after congress had adjourned without passing major alaska lands bill opposed in state. congress passed revised version of bill in 1980 incorporating of these national monuments national parks , preserves, act curtailed further use of proclamation authority in alaska.

the proclamation authority not used again anywhere until 1996, when president bill clinton proclaimed grand staircase-escalante national monument in utah. action unpopular in utah, , bills introduced further restrict president s authority., none of have been enacted. of 16 national monuments created president clinton managed not national park service, bureau of land management part of national landscape conservation system.

presidents have used antiquities act s proclamation authority not create new national monuments enlarge existing ones. example, franklin d. roosevelt enlarged dinosaur national monument in 1938. lyndon b. johnson added ellis island statue of liberty national monument in 1965, , jimmy carter made major additions glacier bay , katmai national monuments in 1978.

on june 24, 2016, president barack obama designated stonewall inn , surrounding areas in greenwich village, new york stonewall national monument, first national monument commemorating struggle lgbt rights in united states.