Question 1: Natural Bridges National Monument, pictured here, was the first national monument of which state?
- Utah
- Idaho
- Arizona
Answer: Utah
Fact: Designated in 1908 as Utah’s first national monument, Natural Bridges National Monument features three breathtaking natural stone bridges—Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo—carved over thousands of years by water erosion. The monument offers scenic vistas, hiking opportunities, and a deep connection to Native American heritage, with ancient rock art and cliff dwellings. In 2007, it earned the distinction of becoming the world’s first International Dark Sky Park, making it an exceptional destination for stargazing.
Question 2: The name ‘Kachina’ stems from the Hopi word for …
- Spirit
- Nature
- Bridge
Answer: Spirit
Fact: In Hopi culture, the term kachina signifies spiritual beings associated with natural forces, ancestors, and deities. The Hopi, a Native American tribe primarily located in northeastern Arizona, are considered by some to have ancestral ties to the creators of the rock art found at Kachina Bridge—one of three natural bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument. The bridge was named for the petroglyphs and pictographs at its base. Surveyor William Douglas believed these images depicted kachina dancers and linked the Ancestral Puebloan artists to the modern Hopi people.
Question 3: Which of these national monuments was established in 2025?
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Camp Nelson National Monument
- Chuckwalla National Monument
Answer: Chuckwalla National Monument
Fact: Chuckwalla National Monument, established by President Joe Biden in January 2025, safeguards more than 600,000 acres of desert habitat in California. Named after the chuckwalla lizards that inhabit the area, the monument also provides a haven for a variety of wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep and the desert tortoise.