President Obama Designates Two New National Monuments, Honors African-American History

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Harriet Tubman was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad who was responsible for helping enslaved people escape from bondage to freedom.
Harriet Tubman was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad who was responsible for helping enslaved people escape from bondage to freedom.

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Charles Young was the third African American graduate of West Point, the first black U.S. national park superintendent, first black military attaché, first black to achieve the rank of colonel, and highest-ranking black officer in the United States Army until his death in 1922.

President Obama last month signed proclamations establishing two new national monuments in honor of African Americans, using his authority under the Antiquities Act. The monuments which are located in Maryland and Ohio help tell the story of Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad who was responsible for helping enslaved people escape from bondage to freedom, and of Charles Young, a distinguished officer in the United States Army. Obama established designations by harnessing bi-partisan support from congressional, state and local officials, local businesses and other stakeholders. The new monuments and are expected to promote economic growth in their respective local communities through tourism and outdoor recreation.

A total of five national monuments were designated by the president. The other three are: the State National Monument located in Delaware and the first to be commissioned there, the Río Grande del Norte National Monument in New Mexico and San Juan Islands National Monument in Washington.

"These sites honor the pioneering heroes, spectacular landscapes and rich history that have shaped our extraordinary country," said President Obama about all five new monuments. "By designating these national monuments today, we will ensure they will continue to inspire and be enjoyed by generations of Americans to come."

First exercised by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, the authority of the Antiquities Act has been used by 16 presidents since 1906 to protect unique natural and historic features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Colorado's Canyons of the Ancients.

The designation of the monuments builds on President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative, which fosters a 21st century approach to conservation that responds to the priorities of the American people.

"From the treasured landscapes of northern New Mexico and Washington, to the historic sites in Delaware, to the sites that show our nation's path from Civil War to civil rights, these monuments help tell the rich and complex story of our nation's history and natural beauty," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. "There's no doubt that these monuments will serve as economic engines for the local communities through tourism and outdoor recreation - supporting economic growth and creating jobs."

Monument Details:Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument in Maryland: The monument commemorates the life of Harriet Tubman who was responsible for helping enslaved people escape from bondage to freedom. The monument also includes the home site of Jacob Jackson, a free black man who used coded letters to help Tubman communicate with family and others. The monument will also partner with the State of Maryland's Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center when it opens in 2015. The monument will be managed by the Department of the Interior's National Park Service.

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Ohio: The monument will preserve the home of Col. Charles Young (1864-1922), a distinguished officer in the United States Army who was the third African American to graduate from West Point and the first to achieve the rank of Colonel. Young also served as one of the early Army superintendents of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, before the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. The national headquarters of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, of which Col. Young was a member, made the property available for acquisition by the federal government for the purpose of establishing the national monument commemorating Young's life and accomplishments. The monument, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, will be managed by the Department of the Interior's National Park Service.

By Larissa M. Tyler

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