Did you know the United States has 129 national monuments? In this post, we will explore interesting stories behind five of them.
Exploring Interesting Stories Behind Five National Monuments
A little history: A National monument is designated either by a presidential proclamation or by legislation passed by Congress. in the United States, Arizona and California have the most national monuments, with 18, followed by New Mexico with 13. There are also national monuments in the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Minor Outlying Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Over time, Congress has reclassified many former national monuments as national parks or another status, while others have been transferred to state control or dissolved.
Devils Tower - Is that The Correct Spelling?
Visiting Devils Tower National Monument in northeastern Wyoming, you might be puzzled by the spelling of the monument’s name because it’s “Devils Tower,” not “Devil’s Tower.” If that seems incorrect, it is!
Spelled initially “Devil’s Tower,” in 1906, the proclamation establishing the tower as a national monument stated “Devils Tower,” with no apostrophe. This error became the official name when Roosevelt signed the declaration – oops!
The best way to learn about something is to see it.
Would You Believe Niagara Falls Can Be Turned On And Off
It really isn’t as crazy as it sounds, and part of Niagara Falls is going to be turned off soon to allow engineers to demolish two 115-year-old bridges that span the Niagara River and are beyond repair, reports Wired. In order to reduce the flow of water heading to American Falls (one of three waterfalls of Niagara Falls), a cofferdam will be constructed between Goat Island and the United States mainland; then, the water pumped out.
Graffiti From The Civil War Adorns the Washington Monument
Graffiti is not a phenomenon unique to modern society. According to CNN, the Washington Monument was still under construction when Civil War fighting broke out. Union soldiers posted there carved their names and drew pictures onto the monument, and the markings can still be seen today at the monument’s base.
Mount Rushmore Has A Hidden Room
Mount Rushmore has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, making it one of America’s most recognizable landmarks. There’s one thing you never see among the Founding Fathers’ faces, thought – a door.
According to National Parks Traveler, there is a secret passage behind Abraham Lincoln’s head that leads to The Hall of Records, a room filled with documents (including charter documents) that tell the story of the United States and keep it alive for future generations.
Red Primer Was Originally The Color Of The Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge was given its distinctive color almost entirely by accident. According to NPR, Harold Morrow (the Golden Gate’s architect) noticed that the steel had been painted with a red-orange primer.
While most bridges at the time of the bridge’s construction in the 1930s were black or silver, Morrow convinced the Department of War – the permitting agency at the time – to paint the entire bridge in the bold color. Can you name the now-famous paint color? The color’s name is “international orange.”
Before You Go
Next time you are planning a travel experience somewhere, be sure to research ‘national monuments nearby’ and visit as many as you can along your way.
I would love to hear about your favorite monument. Please share in the comments below.
Share this post
Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van.
Follow along! Be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with stories and tips on travel, exploring, van-living, self-care & yoga, photography and life on the road.