Designating Pinnacles as a National Park
Pinnacles National Park, Highway 146 east of Soledad
389-4485, www.nps.gov/pinn
Rocks might not change as quickly as animals, but their status can. Thanks to U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, this geological gem of twisted monuments and ruddy-colored caves has finally made it on the national stage, and got ol’ B.O.’s signature in January. Pinnacles was first established as a National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908; its haunting volcanic structures took shape 23 million years ago. At this evolutionary pace, South County cities much in need of more tourist traffic could expect major mutations for the better in the near future.