America gets new national park with designation of Chiricahua’s rock spires

An area of towering rock spires in south-eastern Arizona known among Native Americans as the Land of Standing-Up Rocks has become the nation’s newest national park.

Legislation to create Chiricahua national park was sent to the White House and Donald Trump signed it on Tuesday. It passed Congress with bipartisan backing and is now the 64th US national park.

The 19-sq-mile (49-sq-km) site is within the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache tribes. It was designated a national monument in the 1920s to preserve hundreds of pinnacle-shaped rocks formed from an ancient volcanic eruption.

For centuries the site of the proposed park was home to the Apache, nomadic tribes who often resisted European newcomers to North America. They clashed with settlers until surrendering to US troops in 1886 and being forcibly removed to the San Carlos Apache reservation.

“Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said Doug Burgum, the interior secretary. “This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans.”

The 8,000ft Portal peak in the Chiricahua mountains, one of the sky islands of the basin and range province of southern Arizona and New Mexico surrounded by clouds. Photograph: BAlvarius

The bill creating Chiricahua national park preserves tribal access for traditional ceremonies. It allows temporary public closures within the park to protect those cultural uses, although Juan Ciscomani, a US representative from Arizona, said specifics had not been decided.

Early settlers called the site Wonderland of Rocks. The name Chiricahua comes from the surrounding mountains.

“This is a win for the communities in south-eastern Arizona and for everyone who worked to protect this extraordinary place so our kids and our grandkids can enjoy it,” said Mark Kelly, a senator from Arizona.

The area has evidence of thousands of years of human use, according to the park service. That spans from prehistoric people to Buffalo soldiers – US troops who were Black and stationed at the monument site after the civil war, during a government campaign against the Apache leaders Geronimo and Cochise.

Calvin Coolidge named the site a national monument in 1924 under the federal Antiquities Act. Franklin D Roosevelt expanded the site in 1938.

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It gets roughly 60,000 visitors annually.

“While its name is changing, our commitment remains the same: protecting this remarkable landscape and its cultural heritage while providing opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy it for generations to come.” said Jessica Bowron, comptroller and acting director of the National Park Service.

The park service has undergone deep cuts to its workforce under Trump. Maintenance projects at many sites – including Chiricahua – were ranked “low priority” by officials who have instead focused on projects wanted by the White House, including repairs to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.

The Associated Press contributed reporting