On September 21st, President Obama used the Antiquities Act to designate Chimney Rock as the United State's 103rd National Monument. The Chimney Rock National Monument, a 5,000 acre archaeological site located in the San Juan National Forest of Southwest Colorado, is now permanently protected.
In addition to protecting Chimney Rock for future generations, the National Monument Designation wil be a source of economic opportunity in Colorado, attracting new business and tourism. According to a study commissioned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the national monument designation is expected to double economic activity from tourism in the area over the next five years.
Protected public lands like Chimney Rock provide outdoor enthusists with places to recreate and strong economic opportunites for surrounding areas. Outdoor recreation alone contributes an estimated $650 billion a year to our economy, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.
Learn more about Chimeny Rock from the The Washington Post and The Whitehouse Council of Environmental Quality.