Purpose: Establishing the Boundaries of Glacier Bay National Monument
Date: February 26, 1925
(Original document available here)
Whereas, There are around Glacier Bay on the southeast coast of Alaska a number of tidewater glaciers of the first rank in a magnificent setting of lofty peaks, and more accessible to ordinary travel than other similar regions of Alaska,
And, Whereas, The region is said by the Ecological Society of America to contain a great variety of forest covering consisting of mature areas, bodies of youthful trees which have become established since the retreat of the ice which should be preserved in absolutely natural condition, and great stretches now bare that will become forested in the course of the next century,
And Whereas, This area presents a unique opportunity for the scientific study of glacial behavior and of resulting movements and development of flora and fauna and of certain valuable relics of ancient interglacial forests,
And Whereas, The area is also of historic interest having been visited by explorers and scientists since the early voyages of Vancouver in 1794, who have left valuable records of such visits and explorations.
Now, Therefore, I, CALVIN COOLIDGE, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by section two of the act of Congress entitled: “An Act for the preservation of American Antiquities”, approved June 8, 1906 (34 Stat., 225), do proclaim that there is hereby reserved from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, subject to all prior valid claims, and set apart as the Glacier Bay National Monument, the tract of land lying within the following described boundaries, to wit:
Beginning at the most southerly point of North Marble Island in approximate latitude 58° 40′ north and approximate longitude 136° 4′ west as shown on Coast and Geodetic Survey chart No. 8306; Thence southeasterly to the most westerly point of the largest island at the entrance of Bear Track Cove in approximate latitude 58° 34′ north and approximate longitude 135° 56′ west; thence following the mean high water of the southerly shore to the most easterly point of said island; thence east on a parallel of latitude to the crest of the divide between the waters of Bear Track Cove and Bartlett Cove; thence northeasterly along this divide to the summit of the divide between the waters of Excursion Inlet and Glacier Bay; thence northerly along this divide to the crest of the divide between the waters of Glacier Bay and Lynn Canal, thence northerly and westerly along this divide to the International Boundary line between Alaska and British Columbia; thence southwesterly along the International Boundary line to the summit of Mt. Fairweather; thence southeasterly to the summit of Mt. Lituya; thence easterly and southerly along the divide between the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait to the summit or Mt. La Perouse; thence easterly across Brady Glacier to the summit of the mountain marked 4480 on Coast and Geodetic Survey chart No. 8306 in approximate latitude 58° 33′ north and approximate longitude 136° 38′ west; thence northeasterly to the summit of the mountain marked 4030 on said chart in approximate latitude 58° 34′ north and approximate longitude 136° 33′ west; thence northeasterly to the most southerly point on the north shore of Geikie Inlet; thence northeasterly following the mean high water of this shore to the most easterly point of land at the entrance of Geikie Inlet, thence southeasterly to the place of beginning, containing approximately 1,820 square miles.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate or injure any natural feature of this monument or to occupy, exploit, settle or locate upon any of the lands reserved by this proclamation.
And I do also proclaim that my order No. 3983 of April 1, 1924, withdrawing the public lands within the hereinafter described limits pending determination of the area therein which should be set apart for national monument purposes, is hereby revoked:
Beginning at the western extremity of Cape Fairweather on the west coast of Alaska, thence in a northeasterly direction to the summit of Mt. Fairweather on the international boundary between Canada and the United States, thence following such boundary easterly, northeasterly and easterly to Monument No. 157 of the survey of such boundary by the International Boundary Commission approved June 9, 1923; thence east following the latitude of said monument to an intersection with the right bank of Chilkat Inlet; thence southerly along the right banks of said inlet and Lynn Canal to Icy Strait; thence westerly along the north shores of Icy Strait and Cross Sound to the Pacific Ocean; thence in a general northwesterly direction along the shore of the Pacific Ocean to Cape Fairweather, the place of beginning containing approximately 2,560,000 acres.
And I do further proclaim and make known that pursuant to Public Resolution No. 29 of February 14, 1920 (41 Stat., 434), as amended by Resolutions Nos. 36 and 79, approved January 21 and December 28 , 1922, respectively (42 Stat., 358, 1067), it is hereby ordered that the public lands in that portion of the area last above described not included in said Glacier Bay National Monument by this proclamation, subject to valid rights and the provisions of existing withdrawals, shall be opened only to entry under the applicable homestead laws by qualified ex-service men of the war with Germany, under the terms and conditions of said resolutions and the regulations issued thereunder, for a period of ninety-one days beginning with the sixty-third day from and after the date hereof, and thereafter to appropriation under any public land law applicable thereto. Subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the date of restoration to general disposition as provided herein, no rights may be acquired to the lands so restored by settlement in advance of entry, or otherwise except strictly in accordance herewith.
The Director of the National Park Service, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior shall have the supervision, management, and control of the Glacier Bay National Monument, as provided in the act of Congress entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat., 535), as amended June 2, 1920 (41 Stat., 732).
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this 26th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-ninth.
Citation: The Statutes at Large of the United States of America from December, 1923 to March, 1925
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Frank Harder, who prepared this document for digital publication.