The First NNLs

Rancho La Brea NNL located in California was one of the first NNLs designated. This photo depicts Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, left, and Bennett T. Gale, assistant to regional director of the National Park Service, at unveiling of the bronze NNL plaque in 1964.

UCLA Special Collections, used with permission.

Which National Natural Landmark (NNL) was the nation’s first? It turns out there are 9 NNL sites that can technically claim the title as the first! In 1964, just two years after the inception of the National Natural Landmarks (NNL) program, then Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Lee Udall, signed two designation memos that officially designated these 9 sites. The first batch of designations took place on March 7 and the second on October 14, 1964.

NNLs designated on March 7, 1964:

• Bergen-Byron Swamp, NY

• Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, FL

• Elder Creek, CA

• Fontenelle Forest, NE

• Mianus River Gorge, NY

• Rancho La Brea, CA

• Wissahickon Valley, PA

NNLs designated on October 14, 1964:

• Cranesville Swamp Nature Sanctuary, WV & MD
• Mentor Marsh, OH

(Left) Plaque received during ceremony at Cranesville Swamp Nature Sanctuary NNL in 1964 with Roland L. Gutherie, WVU Arboretum director. Image from Morgantown Dominion Times; (Right top) Fontenelle Forest NNL receives the bronze plaque at a ceremony. Standing with plaque (from left to right) are Garrison, Gifford, Hruska, and Carver. Image from Bellevue Press; (Right bottom) Elder Creek NNL, pictured is Doris Leonard, The Nature Conservancy, with the new plaque. Image from The Press Democrat.

(Left) Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary designation ceremony. Pictured are Stanley Joseph (National Park Service) and Carl Buchheister (National Audubon Society president) with the plaque. Image courtesy of Audubon Society; (Right top) Mianus River Gorge with four of the original five founders (left to right) Jim Todd, Gloria Anable, Tony Anable, and Bob Hamershlag. Photo credit Mianus River Gorge, Inc.; (Right bottom) Bergen-Byron Swamp designation ceremony.