Cody's Cave: National Monuments and the Politics of Public Lands in the 20th Century West

Western politicians in the 20th century often advocated that federal lands be handed to their states or even privatized. This book analyzes the politics of public lands by focusing on the histories of national monuments--how they were established, how federal agencies were charged with managing them and, in a few cases, how they were delisted and their lands turned over to states or local governments. The history of Shoshone Cavern National Monument demonstrates how government agencies, politicians and the general public can play various roles in a monument's creation, existence and even in its demise. The book may serve as a cautionary tale for those who believe the national monument status of a place permanently protects the resource. Over time, political attitudes, government priorities and public perceptions may change as to the role of government in operating national monuments or spending public money for managing public spaces. Just because a national monument exists today or public land is now administered for the benefit of the general public doesn't mean it may be that way forever. In the case of Shoshone Cavern National Monument, Congress abolished its designation and turned ownership over to a community (1954). Eventually, officials of the town, Cody, Wyoming, realized the town could no longer afford to manage the 210-acre site, perched on the side of a nearby mountain. Problems that plagued federal administrators also vexed local officials. In the end, local control did not mean that the resource was better administered or protected than it had been under federal ownership. In the end, ownership of the abandoned cavern and surrounding land was quietly turned back to the federal government (1977). Even though the Shoshone Cavern case shows the perils of resource preservation and protection whenever states and local governments take control over federal lands, some politicians in the 21st century still demand surrender of public lands, owned and administered by the federal government, to the states. In some cases, individuals making this case seem to believe that local control means better administration and protection. In other cases, such calls, particularly from those often called sagebrush rebels, the motivation is wrest away public resources for their own private gain. Both motivations, present in the Shoshone Cavern case, are analyzed in Cody's Cave. The brief history of Shoshone Cavern National Monument is contrasted with the successes of continuing federal management of the nation's first national monument, Devils Tower, also located in Wyoming.