MLK 2013

Date: January 15, 2013
Contact: Karl Cordova, Superintendent, [phone]

Free Entrance to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and all National Parks on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 21 

COOLIDGE, AZ -Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, along with 398 other national park sites, will be open to the public free on Monday, January 21, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "The holiday provides the perfect opportunity to visit the Monument and experience some of the exciting changes that have taken place over the past year," stated Superintendent Karl Cordova. "Come view our new movie, Casa Grande Ruins House of Many Stories, shown in our new addition to the visitor center, or participate in one of our fascinating tours of the Casa Grande compound led by one of our experienced guides." 

Several National Parks are directly associated with Dr. King, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia which contains his birthplace, home, church, and grave; the 54-mile long Selma to Montgomery national Historic Trail in Alabama where he led the 1965 Voting Rights March; and the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. which include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial where he spoke of his dream for American. There are dozens of other national parks that celebrate African American achievements as well. For more information about these sites, please visit the National Park Service website at https://www.nps.gov.

In addition to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the National Park Service will also waive admission fees on ten other days in 2013-the weekdays of National Park Week (April 22 through 26), the National Park Service's 97th birthday (August 25), National Public Lands Day (September 28), and Veterans Day weekend (November 9 through 11). 

Western National Parks Association (WNPA) supports Casa Grande Ruins National Monument through sales of books and site related products in the visitor center. WNPA will offer a 15% discount on all sales on fee free days.  

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the multi-story 'Great House' and the ruins of other ancient structures built by the ancient people of the Sonoran Desert over 800 years ago. The Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website, https://www.nps.gov/cagr, or you may call [phone].

-- NPS --