What was the first US monument?

Devils Tower was designated as America's first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.



The first National Monument in the United States is Devils Tower, located in northeastern Wyoming. It was officially designated by President Theodore Roosevelt on September 24, 1906, shortly after he signed the Antiquities Act into law. This massive igneous intrusion, which rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, was recognized for its extraordinary geological significance and its long-standing cultural importance to Northern Plains Indian tribes. While many people mistake the Washington Monument or the Statue of Liberty as the "first," those are generally classified as National Memorials or were established under different legislative frameworks. Devils Tower set the precedent for using executive power to protect "objects of historic or scientific interest." In 2026, it remains a premier destination for rock climbers and hikers, famous for its striking hexagonal basalt columns. Interestingly, the official name "Devils Tower" lacks an apostrophe due to a clerical error in the original 1906 proclamation, a quirk that persists in federal records to this day.

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President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national monument, Devils Tower in Wyoming, on September 24, 1906.

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Stories and histories shared by tribal members indicate that the Tower was a sacred site - a place for winter camps, vision quests, and summer ceremonies. You can learn more about how and why this place is held sacred by American Indians on our website.

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Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet (386 m) above the Belle Fourche River, and features the world's largest example of columnar jointing. A sacred place to over 20 Native American tribes, the Tower is also known as Bear Lodge.

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