Antiquities Act - Actual Uses

Actual Uses

Although the intended use was for small historic sites, the first use of the Act actually protected a large geographic feature – President Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower National Monument on September 24, 1906. President Roosevelt also used it to create the Grand Canyon National Monument – the first step in protecting that place of great historic and scientific interest. The most recent proclamations were the establishment by President Barack Obama of Fort Ord National Monument in California on April 20, 2012, Chimney Rock National Monument on September 21, 2012, and Cesar E. Chavez National Monument on October 8, 2012.

At 140,000 square miles (360,000 km2), Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest protected area proclaimed. The smallest, Father Millet Cross National Monument, was a mere 0.0074 acres (30 m2).

For any excavation, the Act requires that a permit (Antiquities Permit) be obtained from the Secretary of the department which has jurisdiction over those lands.