TR and the Antiquities Act of 1906

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Teddy Roosevelt did a lot of amazing and incredible things during his life time (including winning BOTH the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Medal of Honor). But by far, the Archive Gals' favorite contribution Teddy made to society was his work in the field of conservation. Today, in 1906, he signed into law the Antiquities Act of 1906, which allowed presidents to make public lands into National Monuments by presidential proclamation, to protect significant natural andcultural resources. This act would pave the way for the creation of our National Parks system. If this at all seems interesting to you, we of course highly recommend binging on Ken Burns (PBS)'s The National Parks and The Roosevelts documentaries (which during the latter, you can learn about our boy Teddy giving a two hour speech after being shot in the chest in an assassination attempt). Caitlin is also obsessed with The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, if you want to learn more specifically about Teddy and the conservation movement.

"In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which, so far as I know, is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. Keep this great wonder of nature as it is. You can not improve it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it."

- Theodore Roosevelt, impromptu speech at Grand Canyon on May 6, 1903.

The Grand Canyon was declared a National Monument on January 11, 1908. It was then established as a US National Park in 1919.

 


Devil's Tower became the first US National Monument on September 24, 1906. 

Here are Caitlin and her cousin Allie at Devil's Tower; searching for aliens, and bedecked in their middle school finest.