President Obama on Friday designated the Stonewall Inn in New York City, the birthplace of the nation's LGBT movement, as a national monument/NPCA

President Obama, looking to further preserve the nation's diverse history, on Friday added Stonewall National Monument in New York City to the National Park System.

"I’m designating the Stonewall National Monument as the newest addition to America’s national park system," the president said in a video announcement. "Stonewall will be our first national monument to tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights. I believe our national parks should reflect the full story of our country – the richness and diversity and uniquely American spirit that has always defined us. That we are stronger together. That out of many, we are one." 

The site is seen as the birthplace of the modern LGBT civil rights movement.

“This designation ensures that the story of the courageous individuals who stood up for basic rights for LGBT Americans will be forever told, honoring their sacrifice and inspiring our Nation towards greater tolerance and understanding,” said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in a release. “The tragic events in Orlando are a sad and stark reminder that the struggle for civil rights and equality continues – where who we love is respected and honored – on our march toward a more perfect union.”

The new monument is located at Christopher Park, a historic community park at the intersection of Christopher Street, West 4th Street, and Grove Street directly across from the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The monument’s boundary encompasses approximately 7.7 acres of land, including Christopher Park, the Stonewall Inn, and the surrounding streets and sidewalks that were the site of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, an event that inspired the modern LGBT civil rights movement.

In response to police raids against the LGBT community in the summer of 1969, a weeklong protest took place in and around the streets surrounding the Stonewall Inn bar and Christopher Park. These are considered some of the most important events in LGBT history, a National Parks Conservation Association release said.

“There are places in America so powerful, they helped shape our nation’s history and culture, and must never be forgotten,” said Theresa Pierno, NPCA's president and CEO. “Stonewall Inn, and the area surrounding this historic site, is one such place. Thanks to President Obama, Stonewall is protected and its story will be told for generations to come.”

At the Sierra Club, Executive Director Michael Brune also praised the designation.

“We applaud President Obama for continuing to expand our nation’s conservation legacy to reflect the full diversity of American life and history. In the wake of the hateful tragedy in Orlando, this designation is a reminder of the incredible power dedicated people can wield when they unite for positive change.

“The Stonewall Inn embodies the spirit of the National Park Service Centennial -- celebrating 100 years of protecting our nation’s most treasured places while also looking forward to the next hundred years of preserving our nation’s natural, cultural, and civil rights history.”

"I am thrilled that today, the events of the Stonewall uprising take their place in history and in the National Parks System as the civil rights watershed it was," said Congressman Jerry Nadler in NPCA's release. "Honoring and memorializing Stonewall--which helped launch the modern LGBT civil rights movement--will allow America to hear and remember the stories of all of the brave individuals who stood up for justice and equality for all at Stonewall."

The National Park Foundation is working to raise the estimated $2 million it will take to get the monument up and running. This fundraising effort will be part of the Foundation’s $350 million Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks and the support will provide critical funds for dedicated National Park Service rangers, a temporary ranger station and visitor center, research and materials, exhibits, LGBTQ community outreach, public education, and scholar engagement. The Foundation will also help establish a local Friends Group to provide ongoing philanthropic support to the new monument.