The Antiquities Act of 1906 established the foundation for preserving and protecting the nation's archeological heritage. Presidents have used the authority of the Antiquities Act over 250 times to protect archeological sites, historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest already on Federal lands. Congress has since enlarged the original boundaries of many presidentially-proclaimed national monuments or changed their park designation. The National Park Service manages over 100 parks that got their start as a result of the Antiquities Act. All of them contain significant archeological resources that contribute to understanding our nation's cultural and scientific heritage.
Learn more about:
- the Antiquities Act of 1906,
- researching national monuments,
- "abolished" national monuments, and
- a list of national monuments organized by federal land manager.
The dataset below includes only national monuments set aside through presidential proclamation. Use the Search box for specific terms or to further hone the results.
| Date of Proclamation Action | Current Name | Name in Proclamation (#Proc.; size) | Action (Bureau) | President or Congress | State | Current Manager |
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Last updated: October 26, 2021