Hidden Gems Of Our National Monuments
The designation of “national monument” evokes statues and memorial buildings that don’t sound too interesting for landscape photographers. However, in the United States, the term has a different meaning. What you’ll find among our national monuments are vast lands rivaling the national parks in beauty, diversity, cultural heritage and unique photographic destinations. You won’t find crowds, tight regulations or over-photographed views. Get ready for an adventure off the beaten path.
What Are National Monuments?
Like national parks, national monuments are federally protected areas. They vary in size from less than an acre to surface areas comparable to large U.S. states. They preserve natural or historic features. The main administrative difference is that only Congress can designate a national park, whereas presidents can proclaim a national monument on their own thanks to a 1906 law called the Antiquities Act.
Sixteen presidents have used the Act to preserve some of America’s most treasured public lands and waters. Half of today’s national parks, including Grand Canyon, were first protected as national monuments. In 2017, an unprecedented executive order questioned these designations
