page_title: History of the National Park Service
section_title: National Monument line III, 1907–1933; Department of Agriculture
hierarchical_section_title: History of the National Park Service / Reorganization of 1933 / National Monument line III, 1907–1933; Department of Agriculture
caption_attribution_description: Sunset Crate National Monument, Arizona, USA. Cinder cone.
context_page_description: Since 1872 the United States National Park System has grown from a single, public reservation called Yellowstone National Park to include 418 natural, historical, recreational, and cultural areas throughout the United States, its territories, and island possessions. These areas include National Parks, National Monuments, National Memorials, National Military Parks, National Historic Sites, National Parkways, National Recreation Areas, National Seashores, National Scenic Riverways, and National Scenic Trails.
context_section_description: Between 1907 and 1933, six presidents proclaimed 21 National Monuments on National Forest lands administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
  Lassen Peak, Calif. included in Lassen Volcanic National Park
  Cinder Cone, Calif.
  Gila Cliff Dwellings, N. Mex.
  Tonto, Ariz.
  Grand Canyon, Ariz.
  Pinnacles, Calif. (trans. to Interior Dept. Dec. 12, 1910)
  Jewel Cave, S. Dak.
  Wheeler, Colo. (abolished Aug. 3, 1950)
  Mount Olympus, Wash. included in Olympic National Park
  Oregon Caves, Ore.
  Devils Postpile, Calif.
  Walnut Canyon, Ariz.
  Bandelier, N. Mex. (trans. to N.P.S. Feb. 25, 1932)
  Old Kassan, Alaska (abolished July 26, 1955)
  Lehman Caves, Nev. became the nucleus of Great Basin National Park in 1986.
  Timpanogos Cave, Utah
  Bryce Canyon, Utah
  Chiricahua, Ariz.
  Holy Cross, Colo. (abolished Aug. 3, 1950)
  Sunset Crater, Ariz.
  Saguaro, Ariz.
  The first two National Monuments in the Department of Agriculture were Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone, created within Lassen Peak National Forest, California, on May 6, 1907, to preserve evidence of what was then the most recent volcanic activity in the United States south of Alaska. In 1916 these two monuments formed the nucleus for Lassen Volcanic National Park.
  Fourteen of the other Department of Agriculture National Monuments were established to preserve "scientific objects". Moved by a report of plans to build an electric railway along its rim, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Grand Canyon National Monument on lands within the Grand Canyon National Forest, Arizona, on January 11, 1908. In 1919 the National Monument became the nucleus of Grand Canyon National Park.
  Two days before leaving office, on March 2, 1909, Roosevelt proclaimed Mount Olympus National Monument, from lands in the Olympic National Forest, Washington. It was established to protect the Olympic elk and important stands of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, and Alaska cedar and redcedar. It formed the nucleus for Olympic National Park in 1938.
  The authority to proclaim National Monuments on National Forest lands is still valid, only two others have been created between the Reorganization of 1933 and 1974. Both were placed under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, Cedar Breaks, Utah (August 22, 1933), and Jackson Hole, Wyoming (March 13, 1943).
caption: Sunset Crater, cinder cone
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