List of U.S National Monuments: Top 10 Monuments to visit
List of U.S. National Monuments: In United States, there are 133 special national monuments. They are built to protect important landmarks, historic sites, and natural wonders. National Monuments can be created by the president or by Congress. It is found in 32 states. They protect a variety of things, like ancient ruins, beautiful landscapes, and sites important to Native American history. Their purpose is to preserve our nation’s natural and cultural heritage.
Check the list of U.S. National Monuments in table below.
List of U.S. National Monuments
In the United States, there are 133 special areas called national monuments. The president can create a national monument with a special order and the United States Congress can also do it with a law.
Name |
Location |
---|---|
Admiralty Island |
Alaska |
African Burial Ground |
New York |
Agate Fossil Beds |
Nebraska |
Agua Fria |
Arizona |
Aleutian Islands World War II |
Alaska |
Alibates Flint Quarries |
Texas |
Aniakchak |
Alaska |
Avi Kwa Ame |
Nevada |
Aztec Ruins |
New Mexico |
Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon |
Arizona |
Bandelier |
New Mexico |
Basin and Range |
Nevada |
Bears Ears |
Utah |
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality |
District of Columbia |
Berryessa Snow Mountain |
California |
Birmingham Civil Rights |
Alabama |
Booker T. Washington |
Virginia |
Browns Canyon |
Colorado |
Buck Island Reef |
US Virgin Islands |
Cabrillo |
California |
California Coastal |
Colorado |
Camp Hale — Continental Divide |
Kentucky |
Camp Nelson |
Arizona |
Canyon de Chelly |
Colorado |
Canyons of the Ancients |
Alaska |
Cape Krusenstern |
Alaska |
Capulin Volcano |
New Mexico |
Carrizo Plain |
California |
Casa Grande Ruins |
Arizona |
Cascade–Siskiyou |
Oregon, California |
Castillo de San Marcos |
Florida |
Castle Clinton |
New York |
Castle Mountains |
California |
Castner Range |
Texas |
Cedar Breaks |
Utah |
César E. Chávez |
California |
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers |
Ohio |
Chimney Rock |
Colorado |
Chiricahua |
Arizona |
Colorado |
Colorado |
Craters of the Moon |
Idaho |
Devils Postpile |
California |
Devils Tower |
Wyoming |
Dinosaur |
Colorado, Utah |
Effigy Mounds |
Iowa |
El Malpais |
New Mexico |
El Morro |
New Mexico |
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley |
|
Florissant Fossil Beds |
Colorado |
Fort Frederica |
Georgia |
Fort Matanzas |
Florida |
Fort McHenry |
Maryland |
Fort Monroe |
Virginia |
Fort Ord |
California |
Fort Pulaski |
Georgia |
Fort Stanwix |
New York |
Fort Union |
New Mexico |
Fossil Butte |
Wyoming |
Freedom Riders |
Alabama |
George Washington Birthplace |
Virginia |
George Washington Carver |
Missouri |
Giant Sequoia |
California |
Gila Cliff Dwellings |
New Mexico |
Gold Butte |
Nevada |
Governors Island |
New York |
Grand Canyon–Parashant |
Arizona |
Grand Portage |
Minnesota |
Grand Staircase–Escalante |
Utah |
Hagerman Fossil Beds |
Idaho |
Hanford Reach |
Washington |
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad |
Maryland |
Hohokam Pima |
Arizona |
Hovenweep |
Colorado, Utah |
Ironwood Forest |
Arizona |
Jewel Cave |
South Dakota |
John Day Fossil Beds |
Oregon |
Jurassic |
Utah |
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks |
New Mexico |
Katahdin Woods and Waters |
Maine |
Lava Beds |
California |
Little Bighorn Battlefield |
Montana |
Marianas Trench Marine |
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam |
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home |
Mississippi |
Military Working Dog Teams |
Texas |
Mill Springs Battlefield |
Kentucky |
Misty Fjords |
Alaska |
Mojave Trails |
California |
Montezuma Castle |
Arizona |
Mount St. Helens Volcanic |
Washington |
Muir Woods |
California |
Natural Bridges |
Utah |
Navajo |
Arizona |
Newberry Volcanic |
Oregon |
Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine |
Atlantic Ocean |
Oregon Caves |
Oregon |
Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks |
New Mexico |
Organ Pipe Cactus |
Arizona |
Pacific Remote Islands Marine |
US Minor Outlying Islands south-southwest of Hawaii |
Papahānaumokuākea Marine |
Hawaii, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands |
Petroglyph |
New Mexico |
Pipe Spring |
Arizona |
Pipestone |
Minnesota |
Pompeys Pillar |
Montana |
Poverty Point |
Louisiana |
Prehistoric Trackways |
New Mexico |
President Lincoln and Soldiers’ Home |
District of Columbia |
Rainbow Bridge |
Utah |
Río Grande del Norte |
New Mexico |
Rose Atoll Marine |
American Samoa |
Russell Cave |
Alabama |
Saint Francis Dam Disaster |
California |
Salinas Pueblo Missions |
New Mexico |
San Gabriel Mountains |
California |
San Juan Islands |
Washington |
Sand to Snow |
California |
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains |
California |
Scotts Bluff |
Nebraska |
Sonoran Desert |
Arizona |
Statue of Liberty |
New York, New Jersey |
Stonewall |
New York |
Sunset Crater Volcano |
Arizona |
Timpanogos Cave |
Utah |
Tonto |
Arizona |
Tule Lake |
California |
Tule Springs Fossil Beds |
Nevada |
Tuzigoot |
Arizona |
Upper Missouri River Breaks |
Montana |
Vermilion Cliffs |
Arizona |
Virgin Islands Coral Reef |
US Virgin Islands |
Waco Mammoth |
Texas |
Walnut Canyon |
Arizona |
Wupatki |
Arizona |
Yucca House |
Colorado |
10 Best National Monuments in US to Visit
1. Statue of Liberty National Monument
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It is an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy gifted to the United States by France in 1886. The monument consists of the Statue of Liberty, a colossal copper statue designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and its pedestal. Visitors can climb to the statue’s crown for panoramic views of the city skyline and the harbor. The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in American history and culture.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
New York Harbor, United States |
When was it built |
Construction started in 1875 |
Construction Period |
Completed in 1886 |
Who built it |
Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi; built by Gustave Eiffel |
Height |
305 feet (93 meters) from ground to torch tip |
2. Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is located in northwest Arizona and is connected to part of Grand Canyon National Park. It covers over 1 million acres of canyons, deserts, and wilderness, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. However there are no paved roads within the monument.
Accessing the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument requires 4×4 vehicles, backcountry hikes, or horseback riding. Visitors can expect to enjoy breathtaking views of the Mojave desert, ponderosa pine forests, and stunning geological formations. It’s important to bring enough water and supplies for the journey, as amenities are limited.
To reach the monument, visitors can start in St. George, Utah, and obtain maps and tips from the Interagency Information Center.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Northwest Arizona, United States |
Establishment |
Established by presidential proclamation in 2000 |
Who built it |
García López de Cárdenas |
Features |
Diverse landscapes including desert, forests, and geological formations |
3. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast area located in Southern Utah, covering 1.8 million acres of remote and untouched lands. It holds the distinction of being one of the last places in the contiguous United States to be mapped.
This monument includes three main geological landscapes: the Grand Staircase, a series of towering rock layers; the Kaiparowits Plateau, a sprawling plateau rising 4,000 feet high; and the Canyons of the Escalante, carved out by the Escalante River.
Visitors to the monument can explore a diverse range of natural wonders, including hoodoos, slot canyons, domes, natural arches, and bridges. Due to its vast size and numerous attractions, many visitors opt for guided hikes or off-road tours, although self-driving is also possible.
Accommodation options in the nearby village of Escalante cater to adventurers, offering opportunities for glamping or cabin rentals amidst the rugged beauty of the landscape.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Southern Utah, United States |
Establishment |
Proclaimed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 |
Established |
September 18, 1996 |
Area |
Encompasses 1.9 million acres (7,570 km²) |
4. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument sits in southwestern Maryland and honors the life of Harriet Tubman, a brave abolitionist who helped many slaves find freedom. President Obama made it a national monument in 2013 and it later joined with the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to form the Harriet Tubman Underground National Historical Park.
Tubman grew up enslaved nearby and her childhood home is now a key site in the park. Visitors can explore exhibits about her life and the Underground Railroad, where she led many slaves to safety. There are also hiking trails and picnic spots to enjoy.
Though the monument is in a rural area, it is not far from places like Ocean City or Washington, DC. After a day of exploring, visitors can relax at nearby resorts like the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Southwestern Maryland, USA |
Establishment |
2013 (by President Barack Obama) |
Who built by |
William Still |
Purpose |
Commemorates the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and her contributions to the Underground Railroad |
5. George Washington Birthplace National Monument
As its name suggests, this national monument is where America’s first president was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 22, 1732. The former colonel would become the first U.S. president and is arguably the most important founding father of the United States.
Washington’s father, Augustine Washington, was a successful tobacco plantation owner and George Washington inherited his wealth, 64 slaves and this Potomac River-front land after his father’s death. Seven generations of the family lived on the 551-acre estate. It is now home to the Washington Family Burial Ground and the Memorial House a charming brick house constructed in 1931.
The monument is just over 90 minutes south of Washington DC, making it an easy addition to a trip to the capital, where an endless amount of national history can be toured. Make it extra Washingtonian by staying at Hotel Washington!
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Southwestern Maryland, USA |
Established |
1930 (Designated by U.S. Congress) |
Built By |
U.S. National Park Service |
6. Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower, the first U.S. national monument was declared so by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. It is situated in Crook County, Wyoming near the state’s northeastern corner and borders with Montana and South Dakota.
This natural wonder is an igneous rock butte, towering 1,267 feet (386 m) from its base to 5,112 feet (1,559 m) above sea level. Its width at the base spans 857 feet (261 m). Rising dramatically from the flat land around the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower stands out as a massive and stunning column of rock.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Crook County, Wyoming, USA |
Built By |
September 24, 1906 (Proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt) |
Purpose |
Preserves and protects Devils Tower, a unique geological formation and cultural landmark |
7. Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home
The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home is located in Jackson, Mississippi, USA, and holds significant historical importance as the former residence of civil rights activists Medgar Evers and his wife Myrlie Evers. Medgar Evers, an NAACP field secretary, was assassinated in the driveway of the home in 1963, highlighting the dangers faced by those fighting for racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement.
The home has been preserved as a museum and serves as a tribute to the Evers’ legacy and their contributions to the struggle for civil rights in America. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing the Evers’ lives and their pivotal role in the fight against segregation and injustice.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive, Jackson, Mississippi, USA |
Established |
Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016 |
Bult by |
Constructed in 1956 by Medgar and Myrlie Evers |
8. Giant Sequoia National Monument
The Giant Sequoia National Monument is located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA. It covers an area of about 328,000 acres and is home to some of the largest trees in the world, the giant sequoias. These trees can reach heights of over 250 feet and have a diameter of up to 30 feet. The monument also contains diverse ecosystems, including meadows, rivers, and forests, which provide habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Visitors can explore the monument through hiking trails, scenic drives, and ranger-led programs, experiencing the beauty and grandeur of these ancient trees and their surroundings.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Southern Sierra Nevada mountains, California, USA |
Established |
Designated as a national monument in April 2000 |
Purpose |
Protects and preserves groves of giant sequoia trees, including some of the oldest and largest trees on Earth |
9. Pipestone National Monument
Pipestone National Monument is situated in southwestern Minnesota, USA, near the town of Pipestone. It spans over 300 acres and is known for its culturally significant red pipestone quarries. Native American tribes, including the Dakota, Lakota, and other indigenous peoples, have quarried the soft red stone from this site for centuries to carve ceremonial pipes, also known as peace pipes.
The monument features walking trails that lead visitors through the quarries and showcase the natural beauty of the area including tallgrass prairies and wildlife habitats. The visitor center offers exhibits on the cultural and historical significance of the pipestone quarries providing insights into Native American traditions and craftsmanship.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Pipestone County, Minnesota, USA |
Established |
Designated as a national monument in August 1937 |
Purpose |
Protects the sacred quarries of red pipestone used by Native American tribes for traditional pipe making |
10. Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument is located in Marin County, California, USA, just north of San Francisco. It is named after the renowned naturalist John Muir and is home to one of the last remaining old-growth coastal redwood forests in the world. The monument encompasses over 550 acres of land, with towering redwood trees that can reach heights of over 250 feet (76 meters) and are several hundred years old.
The monument also features a visitor center where guests can learn about the history and ecology of the redwood forest and participate in educational programs and guided walks led by park rangers. Muir Woods is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, and anyone seeking to reconnect with the natural world.
Aspect |
Details |
---|---|
Location |
Marin County, California, USA |
Established |
Designated as a national monument in January 1908 |
Purpose |
Protects one of the last remaining old-growth coastal redwood forests in the San Francisco Bay Area |
Also Check
List of U.S National Monuments – FAQs
What is national monument?
A national monument is a protected area of land that is designated by the government to preserve significant natural, cultural, or historical resources.
How many national monuments are there in the United States?
There are currently over 133 national monuments across the United States.
Who has the authority to create national monuments?
National monuments can be established by the President of the United States through the use of the Antiquities Act of 1906.
What is the purpose of national monuments?
The primary purpose of national monuments is to protect and preserve areas of natural, cultural, or historical significance for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
What was the first US national monument?
Devils Tower was designated as America’s first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.