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A massive chunk of Arizona's wilderness suddenly got federal protection — and no
1908 Event

January 11

Grand Canyon Becomes National Monument: America Protects a Wonder

A massive chunk of Arizona's wilderness suddenly got federal protection — and nobody saw it coming. President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsman who'd personally explored the region, signed the proclamation that would preserve 808,120 acres of raw, breathtaking terrain. And he did it without Congress's approval, using presidential power to shield the canyon's towering red rocks and impossible depths from mining and logging. Sixteen years before it became a national park, Roosevelt ensured this geological marvel would remain untouched, a cathedral of stone carved by the Colorado River's relentless persistence.

January 11, 1908

118 years ago

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What Else Happened on January 11

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