Arizona Gets New National Monument Near Grand Canyon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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PHOENIX (August 10, 2023) — President Joe Biden visited Arizona on August 8 to designate just under 1 million acres in Northern Arizona near Grand Canyon National Park as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

The designation has wide-ranging support, including from the 11 federally recognized American Indian tribes who live in the region or have historic connections there. In fact, the name honors the tribes’ ancestral homelands, with “Baaj Nwaavjo” meaning “where indigenous peoples roam” to the Havasupai people and “I'tah Kukveni” meaning “our ancestral footprints” to the Hopi people.

“We’re excited to add another amazing place to our roster of spectacular protected parks and natural wonders for visitors to explore,” said Lisa Urias, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism.

In addition to preserving access to both sacred tribal sites and to the monument’s scientific and historical resources, the designation also supports a wide range of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, hunting and camping.

National parks and other associated sites are an essential piece of the state’s overall economy and are a substantial driver of the local gateway communities surrounding them. In 2021, Arizona national parks sites alone hosted 10.7 million visitors who spent $1.1 billion across the state on hotels, recreation, restaurants, transportation and much more. The new park will be managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service, similar to Vermillion Cliffs and Agua Fria national monuments.

The new park site was created by presidential proclamation, which is the same way Grand Canyon National Monument was created in 1908, before being re-designated by Congress as a national park in 1919.

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AOT Contact: Josh Coddington, (480) 438-4700, [email protected]

About the Arizona Office of Tourism: The Arizona Office of Tourism works to strengthen and grow Arizona's economy through travel and tourism promotion, positioning Arizona as the leading tourism destination for domestic and international travelers. In 2022, tourism employed more than 179,000 Arizonans and contributed over $3.9 billion in tax revenue to our federal, state and local economies.