United States National Monuments
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is one of the Most Familiar of All the United States National Monuments
The United States of America has 104 protected areas that have been deemed to be “National Monuments.” The American Antiquities Act of 1906 allowed that the President may “declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments.” The following is the text of the American Antiquites Act of 1906, as well as a list of America’s National Monuments.
American Antiquities Act of 1906
16 USC 431-433 (USC = US Code)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person who shall appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroy any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States, without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of the Government having jurisdiction over the lands on which said antiquities are situated, shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum of not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
Sec. 2. That the President of the United States is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and may reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected: Provided, That when such objects are situated upon a tract covered by a bona fied unperfected claim or held in private ownership, the tract, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the proper care and management of the object, may be relinquished to the Government, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to accept the relinquishment of such tracts in behalf of the Government of the United States.
Sec. 3. That permits for the examination of ruins, the excavation of archaeological sites, and the gathering of objects of antiquity upon the lands under their respective jurisdictions may be granted by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and War to institutions which the may deem properly qualified to conduct such examination, excavation, or gathering, subject to such rules and regulation as they may prescribe: Provided, That the examinations, excavations, and gatherings are undertaken for the benefit of reputable museums, universities, colleges, or other recognized scientific or educational institutions, with a view to increasing the knowledge of such objects, and that the gatherings shall be made for permanent preservation in public museums.
Sec. 4. That the Secretaries of the Departments aforesaid shall make and publish from time to time uniform rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.
Approved, June 8, 1906
Russell Cave National Monument Alabama
Aniakchak National Monument Alaska
Cape Krusenstern National Monument Alaska
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument Alaska, California, Hawaii
Canyon De Chelly National Monument Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Arizona
Chiricahua National Monument Arizona
Hohokam Pima National Monument Arizona
Montezuma Castle National Monument Arizona
Navajo National Monument Arizona
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Arizona
Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona
Tonto National Monument Arizona
Tumacacori National Historical Park Arizona
Tuzigoot National Monument Arizona
Walnut Canyon National Monument Arizona
Wupatki National Monument Arizona
Cabrillo National Monument California
César E. Chávez National Monument California
Devils Postpile National Monument California
Lava Beds National Monument California
Muir Woods National Monument California
Pinnacles National Monument California
Colorado National Monument Colorado
Dinosaur National Monument Colorado, Utah
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Colorado
Hovenweep National Monument Colorado, Utah
Yucca House National Monument Colorado
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Florida
Fort Caroline National Memorial Florida
Fort Matanzas National Monument Florida
Fort Frederica National Monument Georgia
Fort Pulaski National Monument Georgia
Ocmulgee National Monument Georgia
Craters of the Moon National Monument Idaho
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Idaho
Effigy Mounds National Monument Iowa
Poverty Point National Monument Louisiana
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Maryland
Grand Portage National Monument Minnesota
Pipestone National Monument Minnesota
George Washington Carver National Monument Missouri
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Montana
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Nebraska
Homestead National Monument of America Nebraska
Scotts Bluff National Monument Nebraska
Aztec Ruins National Monument New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument New Mexico
Capulin Volcano National Monument New Mexico
El Malpais National Monument New Mexico
El Morro National Monument New Mexico
Fort Union National Monument New Mexico
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument New Mexico
Petroglyph National Monument New Mexico
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument New Mexico
White Sands National Monument New Mexico
African Burial Ground National Monument New York
Castle Clinton National Monument New York
Ellis Island National Monument New York
Fort Stanwix National Monument New York
Governors Island National Monument New York
Statue of Liberty National Monument New York, New Jersey
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Oregon
Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon
Fort Sumter National Monument South Carolina
Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Texas
Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument Utah
Rainbow Bridge National Monument Utah
Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah
Buck Island Reef National Monument Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument Virgin Islands
Booker T. Washington National Monument Virginia
Fort Monroe National Monument Virginia
Devils Tower National Monument Wyoming
Fossil Butte National Monument Wyoming