national monument

noun

1. a monument, as a historic site or geographical area, owned and maintained in the public interest by the federal government.

Word History and Origins

Origin of national monument¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, a national monument can be created by presidential decree.

From Salon

During his first term, Trump argued that the act also gives the president the implicit power to dissolve a national monument.

From Salon

Trump appointees Brett M. Kavanaugh and Neil M. Gorsuch signaled this year that they want to review President Obama’s expansion of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument on the Oregon-California state line.

From Los Angeles Times

“Human excrement can take over a year to decompose in the desert environment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Now imagine the impact of 500,000 to a million people pooping in a fairly limited desert area over the course of a year.”

From Los Angeles Times

Pendley’s Project 2025 plan calls for a downsizing of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, saying the area should be governed by a historic agreement that predated the monument.

From Los Angeles Times