Below is a list of lands set aside as national parks, reserves, or other conservatories by President Theodore Roosevelt via executive order or proclamation. During his presidency, Roosevelt issued nearly 10 times more executive orders than his predecessor.[1] Many lands started out as preserves, but were expanded by later presidents and made into national forests.
A cornerstone of his actions focused on the issue of conservation, and Roosevelt set aside more national parks and nature preserves than all of his predecessors combined.[2] [3] At the time, Roosevelt's executive action was controversial,[4] and many of his actions were brought before a court.[5]
As early as 1892, in his book The Wilderness Hunter, Theodore Roosevelt was calling for the state to take command of wilderness lands.[6] [7]
| Location | Date | Description | Executive Order or Proclamation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | April 11, 1902 | Proclamation 467 | ||
| Arizona | April 11, 1902 | Proclamation 468 | ||
| California | April 12, 1902 | Proclamation 469 | ||
| Nebraska | April 16, 1902 | Proclamation 470 | ||
| Nebraska | April 16, 1902 | Proclamation 471 | ||
| Wyoming | May 22, 1902 | Proclamation 473 | ||
| Colorado | May 22, 1902 | Proclamation 474 | ||
| Wyoming | May 22, 1902 | Big Horn Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 475 | |
| Wyoming | June 13, 1902 | Yellowstone Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 477 | |
| Colorado | June 28, 1902 | Proclamation 479 | ||
| Arizona | July 2, 1902 | Proclamation 481 | ||
| Arizona | July 22, 1902 | Proclamation 485 | ||
| New Mexico | July 26, 1902 | Lincoln Forest Reserve | Proclamation 486 | |
| Arizona | July 30, 1902 | Proclamation 487 | ||
| Montana | August 16, 1902 | Proclamation 489 | ||
| Montana | August 16, 1902 | Proclamation 490 | ||
| Alaska | August 20, 1902 | Alexander Archipelago Forest Reserve | Proclamation 491 | |
| Montana | September 4, 1902 | Proclamation 493 | ||
| Puerto Rico | January 17, 1903 | Proclamation 495 | ||
| Wyoming | January 29, 1903 | Yellowstone National Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 496 | |
| Utah | May 29, 1903 | Proclamation 499 | ||
| Utah | May 29, 1903 | Proclamation 500 | ||
| Montana | June 9, 1903 | Lewis and Clarke Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 501 | |
| Utah | September 5, 1903 | Proclamation 505 | ||
| Utah | October 24, 1903 | Proclamation 507 | ||
| Utah | November 5, 1903 | Payson Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 509 | |
| Montana | December 12, 1903 | Proclamation 511 | ||
| California | December 22, 1903 | Proclamation 512 | ||
| Oregon | February 5, 1904 | Proclamation 515 | ||
| South Dakota | March 5, 1904 | Proclamation 517 | ||
| South Dakota | March 5, 1904 | Proclamation 518 | ||
| Utah | May 2, 1904 | Fish Lake Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 522 | |
| Wyoming and Montana | May 4, 1904 | Yellowstone National Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 524 | |
| Utah | May 7, 1904 | Proclamation 525 | ||
| Utah | May 26, 1904 | Proclamation 529 | ||
| California | November 29, 1904 | Proclamation 534 | ||
| California | November 29, 1904 | Modoc Forest Reserve | Proclamation 535 | |
| Colorado | December 6, 1904 | South Platte Forest Reserve | Proclamation 536 | |
| Stump Lake, North Dakota | March 9, 1905 | E. O. 296-A | ||
| Arizona | March 20, 1905 | Proclamation 539 | ||
| California | March 27, 1905 | Plumas Forest Reserve | Proclamation 540 | |
| California | April 26, 1905 | Proclamation 543 | ||
| California | May 6, 1905 | Klamath Forest Reserve | Proclamation 544 | |
| Oregon | May 6, 1905 | Proclamation 546 | ||
| Arizona | May 6, 1905 | Grand Canyon Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 547 | |
| Oregon and Washington | May 12, 1905 | Proclamation 548 | ||
| Colorado | May 12, 1905 | Proclamation 549 | ||
| Utah | May 12, 1905 | Proclamation 550 | ||
| Oregon | May 12, 1905 | Chesnimnus Forest Reserve | Proclamation 551 | |
| Montana | May 12, 1905 | Proclamation 552 | ||
| Colorado | May 12, 1905 | Proclamation 553 | ||
| Colorado | May 12, 1905 | Pikes Peak Forest Reserve | Proclamation 554 | |
| Idaho | May 23, 1905 | Henrys Lake Forest Reserve | Proclamation 560 | |
| Idaho | May 25, 1905 | Proclamation 561 | ||
| Idaho | May 29, 1905 | Sawtooth Forest Reserve | Proclamation 562 | |
| California | June 2, 1905 | Lassen Peak Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 564 | |
| Oregon | June 2, 1905 | Mauty Mountain Forest Reserve | Proclamation 565 | |
| Idaho | June 3, 1905 | Payette Forest Reserve | Proclamation 566 | |
| Colorado | June 3, 1905 | Proclamation 567 | ||
| Colorado | June 12, 1905 | Proclamation 569 | ||
| Colorado | June 12, 1905 | San Isabel Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 570 | |
| Colorado | June 12, 1905 | Proclamation 572 | ||
| Idaho | June 12, 1905 | Proclamation 573 | ||
| Colorado | June 13, 1905 | Proclamation 574 | ||
| Colorado | June 13, 1905 | Proclamation 575 | ||
| Colorado | June 14, 1905 | Proclamation 576 | ||
| California | July 15, 1905 | Proclamation 579 | ||
| New Mexico | July 21, 1905 | Gila Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 582 | |
| Utah | July 21, 1905 | Payson Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 583 | |
| South Dakota | July 22, 1905 | Proclamation 584 | ||
| Kansas | July 25, 1905 | Proclamation 585 | ||
| California | July 25, 1905 | Sierra Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 586 | |
| Colorado | August 25, 1905 | Proclamation 592 | ||
| Utah | September 25, 1905 | Dixie Forest Reserve | Proclamation 593 | |
| Montana | October 3, 1905 | Madison Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 594 | |
| Montana | October 3, 1905 | Proclamation 595 | ||
| California | October 3, 1905 | Shasta Forest Reserve | Proclamation 596 | |
| California and Nevada | October 3, 1905 | Tahoe Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 597 | |
| Arizona | October 3, 1905 | Tonto Forest Reserve | Proclamation 598 | |
| Montana | October 3, 1905 | Proclamation 599 | ||
| New Mexico | October 3, 1905 | Lincoln Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 600 | |
| New Mexico | October 3, 1905 | Proclamation 601 | ||
| Montana | October 3, 1905 | Little Belt Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 602 | |
| Anna Maria, Florida | October 10, 1905 | 357-B | ||
| Isle Royal, Michigan | October 10, 1905 | 357-C | ||
| Marquette County, Michigan | October 10, 1905 | 357-D | ||
| New Mexico | October 12, 1905 | Proclamation 603 | ||
| South Dakota | October 31, 1905 | Black Hills Forest Reserve | 365-B | |
| Louisiana | November 11, 1905 | Breton Island Reservation | 369-A | |
| California | November 11, 1905 | Proclamation 606 | ||
| Florida | February 10, 1906 | Indian Key Reservation | 409 | |
| Arizona | June 30, 1906 | Black Mesa Forest Reserve (Expanded) | Proclamation 606 | |
| Louisiana | August 8, 1907 | Tern Islands Reservation | 675 | |
| Louisiana | August 17, 1907 | Shell Keys Reservation | 682 | |
| Oregon | October 14, 1907 | Three Arch Rocks Reservation | 699 | |
| Washington | October 23, 1907 | Flattery Rocks Reservation | 703 | |
| Washington | October 23, 1907 | Copalis Rock Reservation | 704 | |
| Washington | October 23, 1907 | Quillayute Needles Reservation | 705 | |
| Louisiana | December 7, 1907 | East Timbalier Island Reservation | 718 | |
| Florida | February 24, 1908 | Mosquito Inlet Reservation | 763 | |
| Florida | April 6, 1908 | 779 | ||
| Idaho and Utah | May 26, 1908 | Pocatello National Forest (Expanded) | 801 | |
| Utah | May 26, 1908 | 802 | ||
| Oregon | June 13, 1908 | 813 | ||
| Oregon | June 13, 1908 | 814 | ||
| Oregon | June 13, 1908 | 815 | ||
| Oregon | June 13, 1908 | 816 | ||
| Oregon | June 13, 1908 | 817 | ||
| Washington | June 18, 1908 | 820 | ||
| Washington | June 18, 1908 | 823 | ||
| Washington | June 18, 1908 | 824 | ||
| Washington | June 18, 1908 | 825 | ||
| Utah | June 18, 1908 | Neba National Forest | 827 | |
| Montana | June 25, 1908 | 834 | ||
| Montana | June 25, 1908 | 835 | ||
| Colorado | June 25, 1908 | 837 | ||
| Colorado | June 25, 1908 | 830 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | 840 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | 841 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | 844 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | Kanikau National Forest | 845 | |
| California | June 26, 1908 | 846 | ||
| California | June 26, 1908 | 847 | ||
| New Mexico | June 26, 1908 | 848 | ||
| Wyoming | June 26, 1908 | 850 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | 855 | ||
| Idaho | June 26, 1908 | 857 | ||
| Oregon | June 30, 1908 | 860 | ||
| Wyoming | June 30, 1908 | 861 | ||
| Oregon | June 30, 1908 | 863 | ||
| Oregon | June 30, 1908 | 864 | ||
| Oregon and California | June 13, 1908 | Cheyenne National Forest (Expanded) | 866 | |
| Wyoming | July 1, 1908 | 871 | ||
| Wyoming | July 1, 1908 | 872 | ||
| Wyoming | July 1, 1908 | 873 | ||
| Wyoming | July 1, 1908 | 874 | ||
| Montana | July 1, 1908 | 875 | ||
| Montana | July 1, 1908 | 877 | ||
| Montana | July 1, 1908 | 880 | ||
| Colorado | July 1, 1908 | 887 | ||
| Colorado | July 1, 1908 | 888 | ||
| Colorado | July 1, 1908 | 893 | ||
| Colorado | July 1, 1908 | 894 | ||
| Wyoming | July 1, 1908 | 895 | ||
| Montana | June 30, 1908 | 896 | ||
| California | July 2, 1908 | 906 | ||
| California | July 2, 1908 | 907 | ||
| Florida | August 8, 1908 | Key West Reservation | 923 | |
| Oregon | August 8, 1908 | Klamath Lake Reservation | 924 | |
| Oregon | August 18, 1908 | Lake Malheur Reservation | 929 | |
| North Dakota | August 28, 1908 | Chase Lake Reservation | 932 | |
| Florida | September 15, 1908 | Pine Island Reservation | 939 | |
| Florida | September 26, 1908 | Palma Sola Reservation | 942 | |
| Florida | September 26, 1908 | Matlacha Pass Reservation | 943 | |
| Florida | October 23, 1908 | Island Bay Reservation | 958 | |
| Oregon | October 26, 1908 | Loch Katrine Reservation | 961 | |
| Hawaii | February 3, 1909 | Hawaiian Islands Reservation | 1019 | |
| February 25, 1909 | Seventeen Reservations | 1032 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Bering Sea Reservation | 1037 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Fire Island Reservation | 1038 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Tuxedni Reservation | 1039 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Saint Lazaria Reservation | 1040 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Yukon Delta Reservation | 1041 | |
| Puerto Rico | February 27, 1909 | Culebra Reservation | 1042 | |
| California | February 27, 1909 | Farallon Reservation | 1043 | |
| Alaska | February 27, 1909 | Pribilof Reservation | 1044 | |
| Alaska | March 3, 1909 | Bogoslof Reservation | 1049 |