The Antiquities Act, the first piece of federal legislation to declare that the past is important to the people of the United States, allows the President, in the public interest, to set aside historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of scientific importance. Passage of the Antiquities Act in 1906 resulted because of an outcry from the public and professional historians, anthropologists, and curators. It represented the first codified protection of archeological resources provided for by the federal government. Over the last 100 years, many more laws have been passed providing additional protections to historic and prehistoric resources, each of which has affirmed the value this country’s people place in our shared past.

Following in the footsteps of the Antiquities Act, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 contains perhaps the strongest language yet for protecting and preserving the past. As part of this act, the National Register of Historic Places was established. The highest designation given to a property on the National Register is National Historic Landmark. They each possess exceptional value for commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States.