On January 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument, defying Congress and developers who wanted to mine it for profit.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Monument Declared | January 11, 1908 |
| Protected Acreage | 808,120 acres initially |
| Canyon Depth | Over 1 mile deep (6,093 feet) |
| Length | 277 miles long |
| Width Range | 4 to 18 miles wide |
| Time to National Park | 11 years after monument status |
| Current Annual Visitors | 5.9 million (2023) |
| Economic Impact | $1.2 billion annually to local economy |
| Mining Claims Stopped | Over 300 claims blocked by designation |
On January 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument, protecting 808,120 acres from mining and development. Congress had repeatedly refused to protect the canyon because business interests wanted to extract minerals. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to bypass them, calling the canyon too precious for profit. This controversial decision saved one of Earth's greatest natural wonders.
For decades, mining companies filed hundreds of claims to extract copper, asbestos, and uranium from the canyon. Politicians from Arizona opposed protection because they believed mining created jobs. Congress rejected multiple bills to designate the canyon as a national park. Developers even proposed building hotels on the canyon floor and cable cars across the rim. Roosevelt watched this greed threaten the landscape.
The Antiquities Act of 1906 gave presidents power to protect historic landmarks without congressional approval. Roosevelt wielded this authority 18 times during his presidency. When Congress refused to act on the Grand Canyon, he declared it a monument by executive order. Mining companies sued, claiming the canyon was not a historic site. Courts ruled natural wonders qualified for protection.
Without monument status, hundreds of approved mining claims would have scarred the canyon with tunnels, waste dumps, and industrial equipment. Asbestos mining was already underway at the canyon's base. Companies planned to blast roads into cliff faces to haul ore. Tourism operators wanted to build luxury hotels at popular viewpoints. Roosevelt called this vandalism and refused to let future generations inherit ruins.
Even after monument designation, Arizona politicians fought to reverse the protection. Mining interests lobbied Congress to strip away monument status. Roosevelt left office in 1909, and protection seemed vulnerable. Finally, on February 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation creating Grand Canyon National Park. Permanent park status ended the threat once and for all.
During a 1903 visit, Roosevelt stood at the rim and told the crowd to leave the canyon untouched. He said Americans should preserve it for their children and grandchildren. He called the canyon the one great sight every American should see. These words rallied public support for protection. His passion made conservation a national priority.
Roosevelt's bold use of the Antiquities Act became a blueprint for protecting American landmarks. Presidents since have designated over 150 national monuments using this same authority. The Grand Canyon now welcomes nearly 6 million visitors each year and generates over $1 billion for local economies. None of this would exist if Roosevelt had waited for Congress to act.
Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act 18 times as president, more than any president before him
Mining companies had filed over 300 claims to extract copper, asbestos, and uranium from the canyon before 1908
The Grand Canyon generates over $1.2 billion annually for local economies through tourism today
It took 11 years for the canyon to go from monument status to full national park protection
Roosevelt called the Grand Canyon the one great sight every American should see in their lifetime
Federal courts had to rule that natural wonders qualified for Antiquities Act protection after mining companies sued
The Grand Canyon became a national monument on January 11, 1908, when President Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order protecting it. Congress had repeatedly refused to protect the canyon because mining companies wanted to extract minerals. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to bypass congressional opposition and save the landscape from development.
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