Establishment of the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

President Obama used the Antiquities Act to designate the Sewall-Belmont House in Washington, D.C. as the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, transferring approximately 0.34 acres to federal control under National Park Service management. The proclamation establishes cooperative management with the National Woman's Party and requires a management plan within 3 years to preserve historic objects and interpret the women's rights movement.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 22503

Impact dates

Apr 12, 2019
Management plan due from Secretary of Interior

Key directives

Secretary of Interior shall manage monument through National Park Service
Secretary shall prepare management plan within 3 years with full public involvement and NWP coordination
Management plan must preserve/protect historic objects and interpret women's rights movement
National Park Service directed to seek agreements with NWP and others for visitor services, interpretation, education, museum collections, and historic preservation
Monument shall be dominant reservation over existing withdrawals

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Federal lands withdrawn from entry, sale, mining, and mineral leasing
National Park Service assumes management of monument
NWP retains collection ownership with cooperative arrangements

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Management plan due within 3 years of proclamation date
Ongoing cooperative management between NPS and NWP

Risks & tensions

Cooperative management between NPS and NWP may create operational friction given dual authority
NWP retains collection ownership while NPS manages land—potential disputes over access, display, and interpretation
0.34-acre urban site may face development pressures from surrounding Capitol Hill area
Management plan requirement is binding but 3-year timeline allows significant delay