Best National Monuments Near Orange County
National Monuments are protected areas in the United States and managed by any of several federal agencies, including the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Bureau of Land Management. There are some even managed by the War Department. It was in 1906 that President Theodore Roosevelt designated the Antiquities Act of 1906 in order to preserve the very first national monument, the Devils Tower in Wyoming. California has twelve national monuments, coming in as the third state with the largest number of monuments. Here are some of the best national monuments to visit near Orange County.
Joshua Tree
Oasis Visitor Center
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
(760) 367-5500
www.nps.gov/jotr
Just two hours of Orange County is where the Mojave and Colorado desert meet and create a fascinating and distinct ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Joshua Tree was declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 after Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. The complex and fragile desert is home to unique rock formations known as Inselbergs. When visiting, keep in mind the national park is the entrance fee, which is $20 for a single-vehicle permit and its good for seven days. The per-person fee by foot or bicycle is $10. The visitor center hosts a variety of events including hikes, bird viewings, camp fires, tours and much more.
Manzanar
Manzanar Reward Road
Manzanar, CA
(760) 878-2194
www.nps.gov/manz
More than 110,000 Japanese-American men, women and children were ordered to relocate to military-style camps in 1942, and it was one of the ten camps of its kind during World War II. The location has since turned into a relocation center with a museum exhibit, a farming community, a cattle ranch and home to the Owens Valley Paiute.
Santa Monica Mountains
26876 Mulholland Highway
Calabasas, CA 91302
(805) 370-2300
www.nps.gov/samo
There are more than 500 miles of trails with both historical and cultural sites that are hidden from the city life of Los Angeles. The history of the region spans back to the Chumash and Tongva that lived in the mountains. The Spanish Explorers then came into the area, and all those who have both worked on the land lived there as well. The Zuma Lagoon in the area is also a wonderful scenic location showcasing the wetland with more than 108 species of birds and various wildflowers.
Cesar Chavez National Monument
Keene, CA 93531
(661) 823-6134
www.nps.gov/cech
Just outside of Bakersfield, the Cesar Chavez National Monument is located in the small town of Keene. It was the home and workplace of Chavez's family and farmworker-movement organizations. The memorial, where Chavez is buried, is open to visitors. The property is known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, "Our Lady Queen of Peace." The small desert garden is open for visitation, but select parts of the land are still occupied for his cause.
Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 557-5450
www.nps.gov
Named after European explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the National Monument in San Diego was first discovered in 1542. The park is home to numerous cultural and natural resources along its two-mile bayside trail with spectacular views. There are many amenities and activities to enjoy while visiting the park, like the Coastal Tidepool Trail that is home to some of the best views in the area. There are also hiking trips planned by the Dusty Socks Club. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is one of the eight original lighthouses on the West Coast.
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