White Sands National Monument is one of the nation's natural wonders.
America's National Monuments are a diverse group of destinations that reveal the country's natural and cultural riches. Since 1906, the Antiquities Act and the provisions it sets forth have been used to protect areas of historical and scientific interest throughout the U.S. and its territories. Travelers wishing to visit the National Monuments will find an adventure to suit every appetite.
Biological Diversity
California Coastal National Monument extends 12 nautical miles out to sea.
Biological national monuments seek to preserve diverse habitats within the U.S. and its territories and the species that depend on them. Travelers looking for national monuments with a biological emphasis can indulge their inner beach bum.
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument preserves the underwater habitats of mangroves, coral reef and algal plains on the island of St. John.
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was created in 2006 to preserve 139,737 square miles of Pacific Ocean, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the upwards of 7,000 species that are found there.
California Coastal National Monument encompasses the 1,100 miles of California coast and the rocks, reefs and pinnacles that provide habitat for the species that live here.
Historical Significance
The Statue of Liberty National Monument received protected status in 1924.
Historical national monuments preserve the ruins of structures built by the early European explorers and settlers throughout the U.S., such as the old Spanish missions of the Southwest. New York contains its share of monuments of historical significance.
The African Burial Ground National Monument received monument status in 1993 after being rediscovered in 1991 during the construction of a federal building. The site served as a burial ground for free and enslaved Africans from the 1690s to 1794.
The Castle Clinton National Monument was one of the forts built before the War of 1812 to stop the invasion of the British. It later filled roles in entertainment and immigration.
Fort Stanwix National Monument played roles in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War.
The fortifications of the Governors Island National Monument were built between 1796 and 1811 and served as protection from an attack by sea as part of the nation's coastal defense network.
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is one of the most iconic symbols of the United States and its melting pot character -- an obvious must-see for anyone interested in the nation's history.
Prehistoric Cultures
The easy hike to the White House Ruins is worth the effort.
Prehistoric national monuments protect the ruins of the homes of the peoples who inhabited the United States before the coming of the white man and whose history is unknown except as it can be pieced together from the type of homes they built and the artifacts found in the ruins. Arizona boasts the greatest number of national monuments with the majority highlighting the prehistoric cultures.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument preserves the dwellings of the Anasazi who inhabited the area between 350 and 1300 AD.
Montezuma Castle National Monument is a 20-room apartment-style dwelling of the Sinagua culture built around 1300 AD.
Wupatki National Monument includes a dwelling built gradually during the 1100s that was home to numerous groups of people over thousands of years.
Hohokam Pima National Monument protects a Hohokam village inhabited from 300 BC to 1200 AD.
Fossils and Formations
Geological processes create the beautiful setting of Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Geologic national monuments contain volcanic phenomena, ledges of rock eroded in striking form, limestone caves, petrified trees and plants, and the fossil remains of prehistoric reptilian life. Utah's national monuments give geology lovers some eye candy and a glimpse into the fossil record.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is a stunning amphitheater spanning approximately 3 miles, formed through deposition, uplift and erosion.
The region of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument encompasses rugged plateaus and wild river canyons that emphasize why this area was the last place in the continental U.S. to be mapped.
The Natural Bridges National Monument showcases three amazing natural bridges created by streams cutting through canyon walls.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument preserves the world's largest natural bridge rising 275 feet from its base and spanning 275 feet across.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument highlights a multitude of spiral-shaped helictites, green and yellow formations and fossils of Horn Corals, Crinoids and Brachiopods.
The recent discovery of a new dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi, at Dinosaur National Monument is reason enough to schedule a visit.
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