Gwendolyn Shotwell Explores National Monuments

In a world filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders and storied historical landmarks, Gwendolyn Shotwell sets out on a mission to uncover the hidden treasures that adorn our nation. Through her keen eye and boundless curiosity, she offers fresh perspectives on the significance and beauty that lies within our cherished national monuments. Below, Gwendolyn Shotwell of Colorado delves into this expedition of exploration and appreciation.

They are found from sea to shining sea. Sometimes they are the shining sea itself.
National monuments in the United States offer an array of unforgettable sights, sounds, and experiences. Exploring them makes for a unique and enlightening vacation for solo travelers or a large group. Since 1906, over 100 national monuments have been designated across the country to preserve and promote the unique beauty and history of the country.

Gwendolyn Shotwell on What Makes a National Monument

National monuments are protected areas that are officially established through either presidential proclamation or legislation through the U.S. Congress. The presidential practice began with the passing of the Antiquities Act of 1906. National monuments can include prehistoric structures, areas of scientific interest, or historical landmarks.

National monuments differ from national parks. Congress enshrines national parks for use by all people because they represent natural and scientific phenomena or scenery. National parks are large enough to accommodate a wide range of uses, including recreation and educational purposes.

Gwendolyn Shotwell says that on the other hand, national monuments are areas that are reserved because there is solely scientific interest, or they contain elements of prehistoric or historic interest. The size of an area does not matter when its national monument status is considered. Some national monuments have later been designated as national parks.

The United States of Monuments

Gwendolyn Shotwell of Colorado explains that there have been 161 national monuments established in the U.S. since 1906. The first was Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt. The most recent is the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi, established by President Joe Biden in 2023.

National monuments are found in 32 states, Washington, D.C., and other American territories. The majority are found in the West and Southwest, including over a dozen in three states: Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

Gwendolyn Shotwell also notes that the majority are areas considered naturally significant, followed by a large number of historic sites and areas associated with Native American and African American history.

Exploring National Monuments

Visiting national monuments is easy to incorporate into road trips or vacation plans or they make wonderful vacation destinations on their own. One of the best ways to visit is to purchase the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series which covers entrance fees for a large number of national monuments and parks operated by the National Park Service.

The scenery, cultural significance, amenities, reaction options, and crowd levels vary among monument areas. With so many options, one approach is to tackle the largest and most popular monuments.

Gwendolyn Shotwell says that many travelers share their thoughts on the best national monuments, but many receiving top rankings are natural wonders, such as Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Monument in Washington, the epic canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument in Utah, and the Rio Grande Del Norte National Moment in New Mexico, which is notable for its numerous hiking, whitewater rafting and wildlife viewing options.

Get Creative

Gwendolyn Shotwell of Colorado says that while some of the more popular national moments are easy to access, there's also a benefit in checking out many that are off the beaten path but just as intriguing.

Many of these are close together and next to other major tourist attractions. For example, visitors to Southern California can easily go from the tide pools and modern lighthouse of Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego to the Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monuments that rise 11,000 feet above the desert floor.

Or visitors can go entirely underground by visiting South Dakota's Jewel Cave National Monument, explore the strikingly odd landscape of Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Moment, or check out Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park far removed from land and surrounded by green-blue waters and marine wildlife.

Living History Lessons

Gwendolyn Shotwell reports that museums are fantastic, but national monuments often provide more of an immersive historical experience for usually overlooked periods of time in America.

Create a historical road trip. Stops can include the Birmingham Civil Rights National Moment in Alabama, the State of Liberty in New York City to get an up-close feel for the immigration experience, and the El Morro National Moment in New Mexico, which preserves the home and carved images of ancestral Puebloans dating to over 700 years ago.

Gwendolyn Shotwell of Colorado says that with national monuments, the history of America (and what would become America) truly comes alive.