| Santa Rosa And San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 25th Anniversary Celebration This Friday The “Monument in Our Back Yard” was one of the first established under the National Conservation Lands Former Congresswoman Mary Bono, Palm Desert Mayor Evan Trubee, and former Santa Rosa And San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Manager Jim Foote to join community celebration featuring guided hikes, desert ecology programs, family activities, and a time capsule installation PALM DESERT, Calif. (October 21, 2026) - Twenty-five years of protecting one of Southern California’s most remarkable landscapes deserves a celebration! The public is invited to join Friends of the Desert Mountains and its partners this Friday, October 23, for the 25th anniversary of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The celebration will bring together community members, conservation partners, and people who helped shape the Monument’s history. Former Congresswoman Mary Bono, who represented the region when the Monument was designated in 2000; Palm Desert Mayor Evan Trubee; and former Monument Manager Jim Foote will join the festivities. Bono and Foote will be available for media interviews about the Monument’s designation, its legacy, and the importance of protecting public lands for future generations. The morning and early afternoon will offer plenty of ways to celebrate beyond the podium, including guided hikes, educational programs, youth activities, small walking tours, a special time capsule installation, anniversary treats, and giveaways. Visitors can also shop for exclusive 25th anniversary merchandise and receive 25% off in the gift shop with the purchase of a 25th anniversary item. Parking is free. “We’re excited to bring our community together to celebrate 25 years of this extraordinary place,” said Tammy Martin, Executive Director of Friends of the Desert Mountains. “The Monument represents decades of dedication to protecting the land and connecting people with it. This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together and look ahead to the next 25 years.” A Day of Desert Discovery The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center will host a series of educational programs throughout the day:
The celebration will also include a time capsule installation marking this milestone and looking toward the Monument’s future. Twenty-Five Years of Protecting a Remarkable Landscape Established by an act of Congress on October 24, 2000, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument protects approximately 280,000 acres of extraordinary biological, cultural, recreational, geological, educational, and scientific resources. Its dramatic landscape spans desert lowlands, palm oases, rugged canyons, and mountain forests. The Monument is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the USDA Forest Service, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Its designation reflected years of community advocacy and a shared commitment to safeguarding this special landscape for generations to come. EVENT DETAILS What: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 25th Anniversary Celebration When: Friday, October 23, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Where: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, Highway 74, Palm Desert, California Cost: Free. Advance registration is required for the two guided hikes. The public is encouraged to attend. Members of the media are invited to cover the celebration and arrange interviews with former Congresswoman Mary Bono and former Monument Manager Jim Foote. Federal agency personnel will not be available for media interviews. For hike registration and event information, visit DesertMountains.org. |
| About Friends Friends of the Desert Mountains connects people to the land through conservation, education, and research. We also are the official non-profit partner of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. We engage all ages and abilities to reveal the wonders of the fragile desert and mountains we call home and instill an environmental awareness that we hope lasts a lifetime. |
