Chiricahua monument in Arizona is now the 64th US national park
New designation of the Land of Standing-Up Rocks, known for its historic rock spires, passed with bipartisan support
TL;DR
- Chiricahua National Monument has been redesignated as the 64th US national park.
- The site is known for its towering rock spires formed from an ancient volcanic eruption.
- It was historically territory of the Chiricahua Apache tribes.
- The designation aims to increase tourism and benefit local economies.
- The legislation preserves tribal access for traditional ceremonies.
- The area has evidence of thousands of years of human use, including by prehistoric people and Buffalo soldiers.
- It was originally designated a national monument in 1924 by Calvin Coolidge and expanded in 1938 by Franklin D Roosevelt.
- The park receives approximately 60,000 visitors annually.