Key facts
- Chiricahua National Monument is now the 64th US National Park.
- The park preserves the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache tribes.
- The site features hundreds of pinnacle-shaped rocks formed from an ancient volcanic eruption.
- Tribal access for traditional ceremonies is preserved.
- The area receives approximately 60,000 visitors annually.
Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona, known as the Land of Standing-Up Rocks, has officially become the 64th US National Park. President Donald Trump signed the legislation on Tuesday, following bipartisan approval in Congress. The 19-square-mile site is within the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache tribes and preserves hundreds of pinnacle-shaped rocks formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. The area has evidence of thousands of years of human use, including by Apache tribes and Buffalo soldiers. The new designation aims to increase visitors and boost local economies, while preserving the site's cultural heritage and biodiversity. Tribal access for traditional ceremonies is maintained, though specific closure details are undecided.