Southwest Parks and Monuments Association

Founded in 1938 as the Southwest Monuments Association and later known as the Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, the organization was created to support interpretation and education at national park sites in Arizona and New Mexico. Over time its work expanded well beyond monuments, and the association became known for publishing affordable guidebooks, trail booklets, and natural and cultural history titles for park visitors.

Its publications often focused on specific places—such as Chaco, Wupatki, Casa Grande, and other Southwestern park sites—and were written to be clear, useful, and easy to carry into the field. Rather than functioning like a traditional single author, the association acted as a mission-driven publisher, helping connect readers with the stories, landscapes, and archaeological heritage preserved by the National Park Service.

In 2002, the organization was renamed Western National Parks Association, reflecting its broader regional reach. Readers who see the older Southwest Parks and Monuments Association name on a cover are looking at part of a long publishing tradition devoted to public lands, conservation, and visitor education.