What is the difference between a national park and a national monument? I asked a ranger today and he said politics. A president can sign on the line and make a monument but it takes an act of congress to make a national park. In 1911 President Taft made this area into a national monument. We watched rock climbers go to the top of Independence Monument. They had ropes, helmets and safety halters. We were not eager to join them on the top of this cliff!
