And then there were 412… Welcome Stonewall National Monument

First it was Castle Mountains National Monument. Then Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument came to be.  Now the National Park Service welcomes #412 to the family.  With the designation of Stonewall National Monument on June 24th, 2016 the National Park Service has grown this year from 407 to 412 park units.

The park service also became more diverse with the addition of Stonewall.  It is the first site to honor the history and heritage of the LGBTQ community in the United States.  President Obama has now used the Antiquities Act to expand or create 24 national monuments, including several focused on civil rights.  To date the administration has protected more than 265 million acres of public land and water.

Today we’re sharing what you need to know about Stonewall National Monument, including 8 reasons to be excited about this new park unit!

8 things you need to know about Stonewall National Monument

  1. Stonewall National Monument is located in Greenwich Village area of New York City.  The monument includes Christopher Park and portions of Christopher Street.
  2. The monument is directly across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a central location in the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.  A critical event in American history, many recognize the Stonewall Uprising as the start of the LGBT rights movement.  Currently open and operating as a private business, Stonewall Inn opens its doors 7 days a week for patrons 21+.
  3. First designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2000, Stonewall Inn and the surrounding buildings waited 16 years to join the park system.  Obama’s designation adjusts the funding stream and transfers the management of the area to the National Park Service.
  4. Stonewall National Monument encompasses roughly 7.7 acres of land. In addition to protecting the property, it also provides funding to protect hundreds of objects and artifacts relating to Stonewall,  LGBTQ heritage, and the major events of the Stonewall Uprising.
  5. The park highlights three statues within Christopher Park.  First is a sculpture commemorating the gay rights movement. Second is a statue of Civil War General Phillip H. Sheridan.  Lastly, the famous 1936 flag pole rises in the central area of the park.  Visitors can check out all three, stop in the Stonewall Inn, and then enjoy a park bench in this famous New York City neighborhood.
  6. Park hours are currently 9AM to Dusk.  There is no visitor’s center at this time.  The visitor’s center at Federal Hall National Monument currently serves as park headquarters.  Federal Hall is roughly 2 miles south of the Stonewall unit.
  7. Stonewall joins 10 other park service units in New York Harbor.  Visitors can walk to many of these sites from Stonewall National Monument.
  8. Just after the designation, the National Park Foundation announced a campaign to raise $2 million to build a visitor’s center, exhibits, and raise awareness for the newest park unit.
The White House is lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The White House is lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Search
Picture of THE PARK CHASERS

THE PARK CHASERS

Greg & Amy
Chasing a visit to all 400+ units in the NPS
Current Count: 130/423
Next Stop: @hawaiivolcanoes

WHERE WE ARE NOW

5 thoughts on “And then there were 412… Welcome Stonewall National Monument”

  1. Pingback: 3 Things You Didn't Know About Hamilton Grange National Memorial - Park Chasers

  2. Pingback: Visit all the National Parks in New York - Park Chasers

  3. Pingback: Camp Nelson National Monument - 10 Things to Know About About Our Newest National Park Unit - Park Chasers

  4. Pingback: Park Chaser Profile: Parkbound Maitlands - Park Chasers

  5. Pingback: 10 Things to See At Federal Hall National Memorial - Park Chasers

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

3 Easy Day Hikes in Colorado National Monument

Since the monument was established in 1911, hikers have enjoyed the stunning scenery in Colorado National Monument.  While many of the parks 40+ miles of

Read More »
All About Colorado National Monument

All About Colorado National Monument

Sometimes our favorite national park units aren’t the end destinations but the parks we find on the way.  Colorado National Monument (Park #95 of 423)

Read More »
Least Visited National parks in 2021

The Least Visited National Parks in 2021

Even though more than 297 million people visited a national park last year, there are still some places you can find wilderness, quiet, and solitude

Read More »

Start Park Chasing Today

Download your free .pdf checklist of all 400+ national park units and start planning your next adventure.