Monumental Stepping Stone

by Drew Hanson

Last week President Obama designated five new monuments in the states of New Mexico, Washington, Ohio, Maryland and a first unit of the National Park System in Delaware. The designations will mean protection for land and water resources and historic sites that help tell the story of our country. More pressing in today’s economy, these designations will mean jobs.

According to USA Today, Jamie Tedesco, executive director of the Taos Green Chamber of Commerce, said that the designation in northern New Mexico will be a shot in the arm for the region.

Part of Delaware's new national monument

Tedesco said studies show the national monument designation will bring $15 million into the economy and 277 jobs.

"National monument designation has shown to bring jobs to an area," Tedesco said. "It just raises the spotlight on it. When you put a national monument tag on something, there's all kinds of promotional advertising going on with that."

In designating the new national monuments, the President was invoking the Antiquities Act of 1906. The law gives a president the authority to, by executive order, restrict the use of particular federal government land or accept donation of lands for that purpose. The aim is to prohibit excavation or destruction of antiquities. With this law, protection can occur more quickly than waiting for Congress to act.

Sixteen presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect 125 places but none are in Wisconsin. Almost, though—the Badger State was once in line to have a national monument.

A 1961 National Park Service (NPS) report recommended that the Northern Kettle Moraine be elevated from a state forest to a national monument and unit of the National Park System. To date, nothing has come of the recommendation.

Perhaps a national monument designation remains in the future for an area along the Ice Age Trail.