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There are 100 national monuments in the U.S. (Photo: Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images )

There are 100 official national monuments in the United States, all of which are administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Some form landmarks that have become national symbols, such as the Statue of Liberty, while others are lesser-known but equally as beautiful and significant. The first U.S. national monuments were established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and, since then, 15 presidents have created national monuments as historic protected areas, including these ten most popular monuments.

Castle Clinton

This round, sandstone fort sitting at the bottom of Manhattan Island predates Ellis Island by about 50 years as the first U.S. immigration checkpoint. Castle Clinton (nps.gov/cacl) was originally built as a fort to protect New York from a British invasion during the War of 1812, and was dedicated as a national monument in 1946. In 2010, the fort was the most popular national monument in the U.S., with 4,126,378 visitors.

Canyon de Chelly

The stoic red ruins of Canyon de Chelly (nps.gov/cach) in northeastern Arizona are at once part of the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation, having been established as a national monument in 1931. A number of important early Native American sites are preserved in the nearly 84,000 acres of parkland, and Canyon de Chelly also offers an array of Southwestern geological formations, including Spider Rock, an 800-foot-tall sandstone spire that rises eerily from the bottom of the canyon floor. In 2010, 827,247 visitors went to Canyon de Chelly.

Cabrillo National Monument

Situated on Point Loma in San Diego, California, Cabrillo National Monument (nps.gov/cabr) commemorates the first European to land on the West Coast of the United States, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Portuguese by birth, Cabrillo carried the Spanish flag in his conquests of the New World. He arrived at San Diego Bay in September 1542, three months after departing from Barra de Navidad on the west coast of Mexico. In 2010, 763,140 visitors came to view the 14-foot-tall white statue of Cabrillo and adjacent museum that comprise the national monument.

Fort Matanzas

The sister fort of Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas (nps.gov/foma) was built by the Spanish in the 1740s and along with San Marcos is the only other structure on Earth constructed out of coquina limestone. Situated along the Matanzas River, the fort was a key defensive structure that guarded the mouth of the inlet against invaders. In 2010, 673,700 visitors came to Fort Matanzas.

About the Author

Megan Eaves is a travel writer and author of the guidebooks "This Is China: A Guidebook for Teachers, Backpackers and Other Lunatics" and "Insider's Guide to El Paso." She has written for IrishJaunt.com, The Prague Post, Unearthing Asia, StudentsInEurope.com and TheCircumference.org, and is a featured blogger for tripwolf.com and Tree.com. Eaves currently resides in Prague, Czech Republic.

Photo Credits

Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images

Attribution: Tysto; License: public domain

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There are 100 national monuments in the U.S. (Photo: Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images ) There are 100 official national monuments in the United States, all of which are administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Some form landmarks that have become national symbols, such as the Statue of Liberty, while others are lesser-known but equally as beautiful and significant.

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The Empire State building

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