A bipartisan bill on Capitol Hill is once again looking to turn one of Arizona’s federal monuments into the state’s fourth national park behind Saguaro, the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon.
Established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge, Chiricahua National Monument is known by many as the “Wonderland of Rocks” — home to its iconic rhyolite pinnacles, which are made from volcanic ash and lava eroding over time.
From Geronimo to Cochise, this land is also steeped in Apache history, something the San Carlos Apache Tribe and neighboring Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico, want to see permanently protected.
The latest legislative effort is being led by Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego as well as Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in the House.
If passed, Arizona would tie fourth-overall with Colorado — behind Utah, Alaska and California — for states with the most national parks.
There are 63 national parks spanning 30 states, in addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
The 12,025-acre Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County draws about 60,000 visitors annually.
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