1906day.year
Theodore Roosevelt signs the Antiquities Act into law, authorizing the President to restrict the use of certain parcels of public land with historical or conservation value.
President Theodore Roosevelt enacts the Antiquities Act, empowering future presidents to protect natural and historic landmarks.
On June 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law, granting the executive branch authority to designate national monuments on federal lands. This groundbreaking legislation aimed to preserve sites of prehistoric, historic, and scientific interest from development and exploitation. In the following years, Roosevelt and his successors used the act to protect iconic landscapes like the Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde. The law became a cornerstone of U.S. conservation policy, balancing public land use with environmental stewardship. Roosevelt’s action reflected his deep commitment to preserving America’s natural heritage. The Antiquities Act continues to influence debates over heritage preservation and land management today.
1906
Theodore Roosevelt
Antiquities Act
public land