The Wilderness Society

06/10/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/10/2025 12:20

America’s most important conservation law turns 119

A brief history of the law that protects some of the country's most incredible lands and waters, from Acadia's shores to Olympic's misty peaks

Acadia. Olympic. Zion. The Grand Canyon. Before becoming beloved national parks, each was first designated as a national monument under the Antiquities Act, one of our most important conservation laws. Long before that, they were stewarded by Indigenous peoples who have maintained connections to these lands for generations.

This century-old law gives U.S. presidents the authority to protect lands and waters of natural, cultural or historical significance. Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906 and since then, nearly every president-18 in all, half Democrat and half Republican-have established or expanded more than 160 national monuments across the country.

Sunday, June 8 marked the 119th anniversary of this remarkable law that has set aside some of our most iconic national land for public and scientific use. This law has preserved outdoor access for local communities, petroglyphs and cliff dwellings, forested watersheds that provide clean drinking water, fossil beds teeming with ancient life, migratory corridors for wildlife and landscapes that help buffer the impacts of climate change.

Today, the law is as vital as ever. Here's a brief history of its legacy that has protected some of America's most treasured places.

The Wilderness Society published this content on June 10, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 10, 2025 at 18:20 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io