President Joseph Biden utilized the 1906 Antiquities Act to sign a proclamation designating Castner Range as a National Monument.
For years, concerned citizens of the City of El Paso submitted petitions and organized campaigns in favor of the conservation of this historical landmark. The conservation groups prevented the U.S. Army of selling this land to developers. Now, this historic site and home of thousands of desert species has become a national monument.
“I have worked tirelessly by being a guest speaker, block walking, obtaining petition signatures, phone banking, meeting, and greeting federal, state, and local elected officials on this issue. To the great citizens who signed the petitions, to the numerous students who submitted artwork, and to all the unnamed volunteers who remained focused and steadfast over so many decades, your dedicated work is not in vain,” said City Representative and Alternate Mayor Pro Tempore Joe Molinar. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the late Judy Ackerman who devoted countless years of her life fighting for this moment. To Dr. Richard V. Teschner whose unwavering and steadfast fight to make Castner Range a National Monument, a ‘thank you’ is just not enough.”
Castner Range will become the first national monument to be administered by the U.S. Military since 1930s. The Army will be working with Tribes to conserve and restore this landmark, together they will evaluate when it is safe to open this site to the public.
“Please look at the Franklin Mountains from any point in El Paso and know that it’s preservation was a long hard-fought battle for this community,” said City Representative and Alternate Mayor Pro Tempore Joe Molinar.
