Monument, Colorado: Named for Its Towering Sandstone Monuments

The town of Monument, Colorado (west of Montrose) takes its name from the striking sandstone mesas, buttes, and pinnacles that dominate the landscape—natural “monuments” sculpted by erosion. The most famous are the Fisher Towers, a cluster of red‑rock spires.

The area was designated a National Monument in 1906 (by President Taft) and later became part of the National Park System, cementing the name “Monument” for both the community and the geological wonderland.