A Day to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Date: January 13, 2016
Contact: Duane Hubbard, [phone]

Roosevelt, AZ –Tonto National Monument will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by providing all monument visitors with a Fee Free Day on January 18. The Western National Parks Association store at the visitor center will offer a 15 percent off sale on all merchandise. The visitor center offers new museum exhibits and a park film.Come visit the Lower Cliff Dwelling which is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and accessed by a 1 mile round-trip paved trail with an elevation gain of 350 feet.

"We invite all Americans to honor the legacy of Dr. King in a national park," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "Attend a special event, take part in a volunteer project, or visit a site with a direct connection to this great leader. We are all encouraged to remember the values of service and commitment to community that Dr. King exemplified throughout his life. Let's make this holiday truly a day on, not a day off."

Volunteers are the backbone of the National Park Service. Whether it's volunteering through the park service's Volunteers In Parks (VIP) Program or leading a Boy Scout Troop through a natural or cultural site to help educate future generations, being an active member in the community is one of the best ways to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For more information about volunteering with the National Park Service visit www.volunteer.gov.

Tonto National Monument protects two cliff dwellings built by the Salado people over 700 years ago.Established as a national monument in 1907 by President Teddy Roosevelt, the cliff dwellings were part of the early archeological preservation movement in America. The Monument is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for December 25. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website, www.nps.gov/tont , or you may call 928-467-2241.

About the National Park Service:More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 409 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.