January 1, 1929: Arches National Monument (later National Park) was established in Utah to protect its unique geological formations.
January 3, 1975: Canaveral National Seashore, Florida (USA) created.
January 5, 1933: Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge, California (USA)
January 8, 1971: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, District of Columbia, Maryland, and West Virginia (USA) created.
January 8, 1971: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi created.
January 8, 1971: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota (USA) created.
January 9, 1908: Muir Woods National Monument, California (USA) created.
January 10, 2017: Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, New York (USA) created.
January 11, 1903: Congress established Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota, the first cave in the world to be designated a national park.
January 11, 1908: Grand Canyon became a national monument.
January 13, 2017: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Alabama (USA) created
January 13, 2017: Freedom Riders National Monument, Alabama (USA) created.
January 13, 2017: Reconstruction Era National Monument, South Carolina (USA) created.
January 15, 1944: Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, New York (USA) created.
January 16, 1908: Pinnacles National Park, California (USA) created.
January 17, 2001: Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, Virgin Islands (USA) created.
January 18, 1933: White Sands National Park, New Mexico (USA) created.
January 19, 1929: Grand Teton National Park was officially established, protecting the dramatic Teton Range.
January 19, 2001: Governors Island National Monument, New York (USA) created.
January 21, 1923: Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico (USA) created.
January 23, 1930: George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Virginia (USA) created.
January 24, 1922: Great Basin National Park, Nevada (USA) created.
January 25, 1939: Badlands National Park, South Dakota (USA) created.
January 26, 1915: Rocky Mountain National Park was signed into existence by President Woodrow Wilson.
January 31, 1947: Everglades National Park was formally dedicated by President Harry S. Truman, though it had been authorized years prior.
Spotlight: The January Giants
Several of our most beloved “Crown Jewels” owe their official start dates to the first month of the year. Here is a closer look at three heavy hitters born in the winter:
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
Established on January 26, 1916, this park was the result of a hard-fought battle by Enos Mills, often called the “Father of Rocky Mountain National Park.” He wanted to ensure that the “scenic island” of the Rockies remained untouched by over-grazing and mining.
* Why visit in January?? It’s a snow-shoer's paradise. The Trail Ridge Road may be closed, but the stillness of the subalpine forests is unmatched.
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
The road to protecting the Tetons was long and controversial, finally reaching a major milestone on January 29, 1929. Originally, it only protected the mountains themselves; it took decades more to include the valley of Jackson Hole.
* Why visit in January?? To see the “Ghosts of the Tetons” - the elusive moose and elk that stand out starkly against the deep white powder.
- Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
On January 11, 1903, Wind Cave became our 7th national park. It’s a place of dualities: one of the longest and most complex caves in the world sits right beneath a sprawling prairie filled with bison and pronghorn.
* Why visit in January?? The cave stays a consistent 54*F (12*C) year-round. If you want to escape a South Dakota blizzard, underground is the warmest place to be!
Why January Matters for Conservation
January isn’t just about dates on a calendar; it represents the “fresh start” of the American conservation movement. Many of these parks were established during the Progressive Era, a time when we realized that our natural resources weren’t infinite. By signing these acts in the dead of winter, leaders ensured that when the spring thaws arrived, these lands were already safe for future generations.
“There is nothing so American as our national parks... the fundamental idea behind the parks is that the country belongs to the people.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt.