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**"The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the National Park Service: A Century
of Archeology, Conservation, and Preservation," at the Department of the
Interior Museum through May 2007**

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This exhibit spotlights how the National Park Service has been at the
forefront of protecting the resources identified in the Antiquities Act
of 1906. Including materials from Fort Jefferson in the Florida Keys,
Muir Woods in California, Montezuma's Castle and Tuzigoot in Arizona,
and Zion in Utah, "The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the National Park
Service: A Century of Archeology, Conservation, and Preservation" is a
sampling of the varied resources the NPS safeguards from threats such as
looting, vandalism, and environmental hazards.

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The exhibit includes a chronology of important events (seen above),
cases of artifacts and natural specimens, historical photographs, and a
video (as pictured to the left). It draws on the collections developed
as a result of the preservation of lands and materials under the
Antiquities Act, and the expertise of National Park Service staff at the
national monuments. Text within the exhibit describes the continuing
significance and relevance of the Antiquities Act to the people of the
United States.

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The canyons at Zion National Park are a stunning geological record
preserved under the Act. The Interior Museum exhibit features several
wildlife resources also protected in the park such as a wily roadrunner,
a bobcat, and a hawk, all represented by taxidermy mounts (seen to the
right). Exhibits of small cones from the redwood trees and Douglas firs
at Muir Woods National Monument evoke the towering forests there, and
include one taxidermy mount of a scrub jay, a bird with striking blue
coloration.

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height="2.6215277777777777in"}On loan from Montezuma Castle National
Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument, a large stone pestle (seen to
the left) contrasts with a small mortar bear witness to the daily lives
of the Sinagua people in the hills and valleys surrounding the Verde
River over a thousand years ago. From more recent times, ceramic
fragments, a bottle, and bullet casings provide glimpses into the
military and prison life in the late 19th century at Fort Jefferson, now
Dry Tortugas National Park.

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The Antiquities Act of 1906 provided a foundation for historic
preservation and natural conservation in the United States.
Archeological and natural sites at national parks, such as Fort Union
National Historic Site, are today protected by federal legislation such
as the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Archaeological
Resources Protection Act of 1979. The Antiquities Act has had broad
effects on the American consciousness for what is important to research
professionally, to enjoy as visitors, and to preserve and remember.

**Visiting the Department of the Interior Museum**

The museum educates the public and Interior employees about the current
missions and programs of the Department, the history of the agency, and
the art and architecture of its headquarters building. The museum is
open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(except federal holidays) and the third Saturday of each month from 1
p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free. Adult visitors must present a form of photo
identification (such as a driver's license, student ID, or employment
card) when entering the Main Interior Building at 1849 C Street, N.W.,
in Washington, D.C. For more information, call 202/208-4743.