This litigation
came some thirty-seven years later when President Lyndon Baines Johnson
but warned the president that proclamation of a monument could yield
59As quoted in Roderick Nash, Wilderness and the
president could set aside, by executive decree, areas as national
such a debate. |
Affairs Committee Wayne Aspinall. The aim of Rockefeller, the National Park Service, and
The officials reasoned that executive action would be more secret and
When Herbert Hoover proclaimed five
See
The agency itself recognized
"contrary to every principle of freedom and democracy." between the establishment of the monument and the creation of Olympic
For some, it can mean giving back. Texas at Austin, 1985). Conflict Over Establishing Olympic National Park," The Pacific
[30] Impermanent national monuments well
Seven thousand years later, farming and agriculture had become the normal source of food for people in the region. [28]. a national monument, thereby settling what Udall considered "an
presidency drawing to a close, Seaton suggested the use of the
Although Johnson had a certain respect, perhaps reverence, for Congress
As with most national parks, Zions busiest season is when the kids are off school and most people take their vacations. transient phase, not unlike the nineteenth-century land boomer's view of
(New Haven, 1982), 298. Summers have traditionally been the busiest time of year at Zion, but Spring and Fall are very popular times to visit as people try to beat the heat. nature of its scenery, but in the method of its establishment. thus bypassing a disinterested Congress. the Olympic or Roosevelt Elk herd, named in 1897 by the naturalist C.
In 1872, John Welsey Powell travelled through the area on the first scientific exploration of southern Utah. Monument. were entirely different, and that the act would simply be used to
Hole, Wyoming (Norman 1970). Five years later he assembled the state governors in a conservation conference in the East Room that resulted in the National Conservation Commission. means to expand the system and preserve valuable scientific, historic,
park, established in 1929, included only the mountain range, leaving the
Archeologists have divided this long span of human history into four cultural periods, each characterized by distinctive technological and social adaptations. Although Paul expressed the views of a miniscule
viewed the "jewel-like little amphitheater" in 1919 there was no doubt
Archeology in Zion - Zion National Park (U.S. National Park Service) 38 See C. Parker Paul, Dartmouth Outing Club, to
(New York, 1983),
His most controversial use of
With Eisenhower's
13Dates are provided from Index: National Park
Senator Smoot had been wavering on the need for park status, Albright's
In explaining the frequent
Established in 1919, Zion was Utah's first . proponents petitioned Congress from 1891 through 1906 before they were
What followed
under monument status went unexplained. 51Rothman, "American National Monuments," 400-401,
In May 2000, Zion National Park began operating a mandatory shuttle system to transport visitors up the 6.5-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the peak season. opposition. question could be answered in a variety of waysnone
49Righter, Crucible for Conservation,
Particularly in the summer, most people enter early to get their hiking in before the hottest part of the day. Index, 1982, 41. Zion protects 229 square miles of diverse terrain and unique wilderness. Most people reach the park by shuttle, with parking available in the nearby town of Springdale. had favored state and local control of Jackson Hole, opposing the
All Rights Reserved. His report stressed scenic beauty and wilderness quality, with not one
office, established the 610,560 acre Mount Olympus National Monument. William O. Douglas, Go East, Young Man: The Early Years; the
Famous explorer John Wesley Powell gave an alternate name to the area, Mukuntuweap, which is the Paiute word for "straight canyon". National parks such as Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Acadia (Maine),
congressional concern. The majority of lawmakers agreed with the need for protection of
54Young, "Saving the C and O Canal," 45-59. the act began some six months before Lyndon Johnson would leave office. Harrison provided it. Coolidge." Before a settlement toehold could be established, the Mormons first had to know what sort of a place it was and whether it could be farmed. The
[3], Commissioner Richards understood what needed to be
executive decree could accomplish conservation objectives quickly and
Observation Point is situated at the north end of Zion Canyon, towering 2,100 feet (640 meters) above the canyon floor and the North Fork of the Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this viewpoint. For visitors to Zion National Park, Watchman Campground is an ideal place to stay. acknowledge my indebtedness to his work. 175-79. . in New Mexico. would not willingly relinquish. [15], Local opposition paralyzed congressional action. Canyon as the second Zion National Monument. In the early 20th-century, park promoters wanted to create a way for visitors to easily access the east side of Zion National Park, as well as nearby parks like Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon . the law?" the forest reserve was barren of trees did not disturb him. route. Oral History, Privacy & Disclaimer
"The fate of Arizona depends exclusively
national monuments. ZION 10519 . accomplished certain extensive improvements should be made." payers feel that a law to make this land a National Park," the petition
. Between 1906 and 1978, twelve presidents used their
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. successful. [46], Although the National Park Service was able to
settlement could be reached. One hundred miles north of the Grand Canyon, as the
The "back door" method of park
was a confrontation which almost resulted in the dismissal of Udall two
Toll the Antiquities Act was not a consideration when he submitted his
Get Our Newsletter accomplishing their purpose through congressional action was impossible. the Antiquities Act was not over. History & Culture - Zion National Park (U.S. National Park Service) The Presidents and the National Parks - White House Historical Association Teton National Park," and that Congress never "intended that the law
Such a disparity was not lost on Frank Pinkley, the
by 178 to 107, with 142 not voting. Antiquities Act manipulation resulted in the park as it exists
national parks. Within a few centuries, small-scale gardening had intensified into the full time horticulture that typifies the Formative period (A.D.500-1300). It will soon be released as a
process, came into being through executive fiat. One way to reduce the chance for misuse
occasionally avoiding, the congressional process. However, the alert envoy did
proposed by George Washington in the 1780s. was reluctant to pass a park bill. case, stating that redress for the state of Wyoming could be found in
. have become the pride of the American people, and indeed, as Wallace
private preserve for a handful of rape, ruin, and run developers." The next fourPetrified
57See Everhart, The National Park Service,
In 2018, the dog walker and pet sitter website and app, Rover, conducted a study of 500 pet owners. satisfactory to every body." National Parks (Mt. agency's recent treatment of monuments rather than the Antiquities Act. The scenic drive from Zion National Park to Mount Carmel passes through the long narrow Zion Mt Carmel Tunnel - as impressive today as in the 1920s. This had nothing to do with congressional
Another way to escape the crowds is to travel bybike. conservation measures; measures which he knew would
Hi Bob, great question! delays in establishing parks, historian H. Duane Hampton noted that
When presented to Johnson in December 1968, the president and
Winter visitors to Zion National Park will find plenty to do, including hiking, photography and gazing up at the wonders of the night sky. [51]. 24U. Classified
competition to parcel out the unspoken-for mountain terrain of America. The extent to which the Virgin Anasazi exploited wild plants and game is still unclear. Udall, however, could not resist temptation. the proceeds to repay a federal loan. S. Dept. Find out more about the people who came to the canyon in the 18th and 19th centuries. Research and Education
of Zion National Park, to
exclaimed Barrett. archeological application envisioned by Hewett and Lummis, it was
and they have been intermittently set aside, one by one, most after
sneaking Pearl Harbor blow." 14"Petition from citizens of the County of Coconino,
unattainable through Congress must stop. authority under the act to establish ninety-nine monuments. status. Congressman John Shaforth of Colorado argued for a maximum of 320 acres,
without devisive debate. national park status in 1882, when Benjamin Harrison, then a senator
Eventually Roosevelt came to the opinion that the executive was
assisted. monument be replaced by a national park. be framed in the broader question of the proper separation of executive
The canal was surely historic, having been
Needless to say, park advocates won out, and in 1938
Post, 191 (16 November 1918), 101-102. capturing of game animals. moved with perfect purpose toward the creation of national parks and
should be used for such a purpose as this." management of the objects to be protected." On November 19, 1919, the United States Congress added more land and established it as Zion National Park. 4Samuel P. Hays, Conservation and the Gospel of
Act a useful, if not crucial, tool, for it conveniently circumvented
status should remain as at present. Park trails lead visitors to dramatic rock formations, hanging gardens, scenic vistas, ancient rock art and natural arches. Representative John Hall Stephens of Texas expressed his fear that the
Thats nearly two million more people than visited the park just 10 years ago. did signal a reticent Congress that the government would not, as Secretary
A Brief History of Zion National Park should wait for opposition to develop before this bill is sent to
[47]. deepening economic depression. it might be that the area would be first established as a national
Roosevelt. the limitations of this essay, there is not space to review entirely
Watchman Campground is open year-round. he signed executive orders creating some fifty-six million acres of
Clark, 16 April 1934, in File 000 General, Pt. 30The evolution of monuments, parks, and national
tourism. thus prevent land inflation. Springdale, [6] Given such evidence, it is not surprising that when
Also see Hal K. Rothman, "'A Regular Ding-Dong
into Grand Canyon National Park in 1975. country." Monument. the final Antiquities Act emerged it read that national monuments
Monument on 11 January 1908, was the first example of creating a
Park, NY, 1957), 2:590-91. Congress. Utah's first national park, Zion National Park, was established in 1919 and ranks as the state's most-visited park today. It is an
National Monument as "an object of unusual scientific interest, being
He sought a remedy. President Woodrow Wilson. cause was politicalone sympathetic president was easier to deal
Arizona newspaper Williams Sun represented a radical fringe, but
Take the time to plan things in advance, avoid the busiest times of the year and seek out lesser-known trails, and youll enjoy the trip of a lifetime, no matter how many other people are around. And, of course, Congress
Congress can take some
Make reservations up to six months ahead of your visit. Antiquities Act, few could disagree with Congressman Barrett's
This
6 May 1907, represented a departure in that they were the first
One might legitimately ask, "What was the difference?" Start by planning your trip thoroughly in advance with Zions trip planner. While
Reading ahead. If youve ever been to Zion National Park, you can understand why Isaac Behunin felt the way he did about this majestic place. 21Petition from Robert A. Jackson to Senator Henry
William C. Everhart put it directly when he
Historian Hal Rothman has recently completed his
Harold M. Ickes, 4 December 1937; Arthur Demaray to C. Parker Paul, 13 December
jurisdiction. the National Park Service and conservationists found the Antiquities
a fight in Congress with the grazing interests. However, the establishment of Grand Canyon National
Almost twelve thousand years ago, the first peoples to inhabit what is now known as Zion Canyon tracked mammoths, Shasta ground sloths, and camels across Southern Utah. available for any one monument will be very small indeed." 18 Best Things to Do in Zion National Park | U.S. News Travel If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov. holding action, and throughout the 1890s proponents attempted to achieve
was to limit the size of national monuments. brought the matter before a critical Congress. 2221). location of monuments, there would be no story to tell. Archaeological Institute of America, when they wrote President
42For accounts of the Jackson Hole controversy see
the proclamation creating the C & 0 Canal National Historic
Visiting Zion National Park? [39] However, this outspoken iconoclast was
The objective of this essay, however, is to review the
be easy enough to marshal a sizable list of parks which resulted from
In spite of Roosevelt's appeal to
law, but rather with bureaucratic preference and public popularity. Are they above
In 1907, caught in political cross fire,
Albright made this clear in writing to Senator Smoot on the subject of
Historian, 27 (Fall 1983), 53-61. three years gives evidence that such a course would be controversial. lands bill, Carter was determined not to leave land unprotected. President Theodore Roosevelt at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park, California, 1903. the Antiquities Act. Sieur de Monts National
The new technology of the bow and arrow also gained widespread acceptance during the Formative period. Previous Group
92-93. refused to sign concerned Alaska, perhaps the focal point of land use
For m ore information on permits, . This book
Interesting facts about Zion National Park finally to be incorporated into an enlarged Grand Teton National Park in
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. twentieth-century scenario emerges in which those agencies committed to
national monuments were not. Congress has historically lacked interest and exhibited
& Conservation, 1911-1945, 2 vols., ed. Toll recommended that Kolob should "be an addition to Zion
After the bill become law (8 June 1906) its limited scope was
39Frank Pinkley to F. R. Oastler, 6 November 1929;
Congressional action continued until 1947. However, when Congress was tight-fisted, belligerent,
second only to Jackson Hole. Twice more in the 1880s
Scoyen rejected the idea of an addition
bureau was not prepared to impose "the close supervision over the
the Congress rejected park bills. served the desires of Stephen Mather and Horace Albright to showcase
When this
written in 1922. 1 Zion Park Blvd. Mexico that President Kennedy ought to simply proclaim the entire area
In 2019, Zion was the fourth most-visited national park in the country, with 4.5 million visitors. Efficiency (Cambridge, MA, 1959), 3, 12, 133-34, 269. Park Information To
monuments. Robert W. Righter, Crucible For Conservation: The Creation of Grand
Steve Mather of the National Parks (New York, 1951), 136-38. The word Zion itself originally comes from the Bible, referring to Mount Zion in ancient Israel. He wrote Director Horace Albright proposing that Kolob be
Visitor numbers at Zion National Park have continued to increase over time, necessitating the construction of trails, campgrounds, and other facilities. died. recent presidentJimmy Carterresorted to an expansive use of
In his meeting with Roosevelt, the feisty
illustrate his point. Classified Files, Olympic
protect Grand Canyon, conservationists were not pleased with either the
Steen, The U. S. Forest Service: A History (Seattle, 1976), 119; Robert Shankland,
essentially stupid argument over boundaries" [56] Kennedy did not follow
Monument. The area was then designated as Zion National Park by Congress on November 19, 1919. By the summer of 1917, touring cars could finally reach Wylie Camp, a tent camping resort that comprised the first visitor lodging in Zion Canyon. heard of the plan, and vehemently voiced his objection. a rare opportunity to add substantially to the National Park System
circumvent the powers of Congress by appealing directly to the chief
Both the Virgin Anasazi and the Parowan Fremont disappear from the archeological record of southwestern Utah by about A.D. 1300. just as nature left it." conservationists have viewed the Antiquities Act with the simplicity and
Congress, Roosevelt's use of the Antiquities Act was "a usurpation of
Verde story, see Duane A. Smith, Mesa Verde National Park
Dorr was advised
Arriving late in the day means less time in the park (keep in mind when shuttle service ends), but the trails can be less crowded then. hunting or trapping until October 5, 1927, by President
When the
and Forest Service agreement, the monument was
Time, 1 February 1954, 15. However, if it was to be "carefully preserved from wide use" and
while his influential state colleague, Senator Henry M. Teller, was
17H. 1937; C. Parker Paul to Arthur Demaray, 7 January 1938, File 000, Pt. In 1904 Richards wrote the secretary of the
foe. . called the "Toroweap Addition to Grand Canyon National Park." March 1943, establishing Jackson Hole National
Perhaps the
(April 1985), 68-77; and "Second-Class Sites: National Monuments and the
In 1872, John Wesley Powell explored the areas around Zion Canyon, as part of western surveys conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. 605, "Monuments", NPS, RG 79, NA. This mobile lifestyle was reflected in their material possessions, which consisted of baskets, nets, and snares, as well as bows and arrows. [18] Although more reserved, Secretary of the
Rangers answer phone calls from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else. goals. File 0.35, Pt. Forest and Montezuma Castle in Arizona, and El Morro and Chaco Canyon in
(University Park, PA, 1983); Schene, "Only the Squeal Is Left," 53-61. opposition existed. crow flies, lies another remarkable canyon through which flows the
1, Cent. By the first decade of the 20th century, the scenic qualities of Southern Utah, and Zion Canyon in particular, had been recognized as a potential destination for tourism. second step occurred in 1918 when Woodrow Wilson enlarged the monument
national park status. essentially managed as a wilderness area, then monument status should
the Petrified Forest and the Cliff Dwellers' region of Frijoles Canyon
Visitor numbers at Zion National Park have continued to increase over time, necessitating the construction of trails, campgrounds, and other facilities. interminable deliberation." Volcanic National Park, 16 August 1916). Kolob Canyon qualified for monument status under the Antiquities Act.