10 U.S. centennials to celebrate

While the mountains in the United States' highest park have towered here for millennia, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/romo/historyculture/index.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain National Park</a> celebrates its 100th year as a national park on January 26. More than 60 peaks stand higher than 12,000 feet. Luckily for visitors, the centennial celebrations last into the warmer months, wrapping up in September.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado —

While the mountains in the United States' highest park have towered here for millennia, Rocky Mountain National Park celebrates its 100th year as a national park on January 26. More than 60 peaks stand higher than 12,000 feet. Luckily for visitors, the centennial celebrations last into the warmer months, wrapping up in September.

Brennan Linsley/AP

Thousands of people will descend upon Nampa, Idaho, in July for the <a href="http://www.snakeriverstampede.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Snake River Stampede</a>, one of the best professional rodeos in the country. The stampede is celebrating its 100th birthday as a ticketed event in 2015, locals say. (There were earlier contests that didn't charge a fee.) There will be bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and other competitions. <br />

Snake River Stampede, Idaho —

Thousands of people will descend upon Nampa, Idaho, in July for the Snake River Stampede, one of the best professional rodeos in the country. The stampede is celebrating its 100th birthday as a ticketed event in 2015, locals say. (There were earlier contests that didn't charge a fee.) There will be bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and other competitions.

Charlie Litchfield/Idaho Press-Tribune/AP

Anchorage, Alaska —

While there was life in Anchorage before 1915, a July 10 land auction that year resulted in the purchase of the first property for the newly laid-out downtown. Anchorage, it was finally decided, would become a permanent settlement. There are celebrations throughout the year.

Dan Joling/AP

While <a href="http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/dino100.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Dinosaur National Monument</a> celebrates its centennial anniversary as a national monument on October 4, the dinosaur and other reptile fossils date back 149 million years. The site has expanded from its original 80 acres to more than 210,000 acres on the Utah-Colorado border. (Fossils can only be found on <a href="http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/directions.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">the Utah side of the monument</a>.)

Dinosaur National Monument, Utah —

While Dinosaur National Monument celebrates its centennial anniversary as a national monument on October 4, the dinosaur and other reptile fossils date back 149 million years. The site has expanded from its original 80 acres to more than 210,000 acres on the Utah-Colorado border. (Fossils can only be found on the Utah side of the monument.)

Jacob W. Frank/Dinosaur National Monument

Since the <a href="http://new.artsmia.org" target="_blank" target="_blank">Minneapolis Institute of Arts</a> opened its doors a century ago, the museum has expanded its space twice and its permanent collection has grown from 800 works of art to more than 83,000 pieces. The museum was established by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, a group of arts-minded citizens who joined forces in 1883.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota —

Since the Minneapolis Institute of Arts opened its doors a century ago, the museum has expanded its space twice and its permanent collection has grown from 800 works of art to more than 83,000 pieces. The museum was established by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, a group of arts-minded citizens who joined forces in 1883.

Glen Stubbe/Minneapolis Star Tribune/ZUMA

San Diego's <a href="http://celebratebalboapark.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Balboa Park </a>is celebrating the centennial of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which largely influenced the look and offerings within the 1,200-acre urban cultural park, <a href="http://celebratebalboapark.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">which actually dates back to 1868</a>. The park now includes the world-famous San Diego Zoo,15 museums and eight gardens.

Balboa Park, California —

San Diego's Balboa Park is celebrating the centennial of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which largely influenced the look and offerings within the 1,200-acre urban cultural park, which actually dates back to 1868. The park now includes the world-famous San Diego Zoo,15 museums and eight gardens.

Gregory Bull/AP

Miami Beach, Florida —

Miami Beach isn't just one piece of land. Incorporated as a town on March 26, 1915 (and as a city in 1917), this beach paradise is a series of natural and man-made islands connected by bridges, called causeways by locals. Enjoy the beaches, stunning Art Deco architecture, Cuban and modern cuisine and a thriving art scene. The city plans a 100-hour party in March.

Alan Diaz/AP

Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912, but the organization was formally incorporated in the <a href="https://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/pdf/2012_blue_book.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">District of Columbia in 1915</a> (PDF). That's reason enough to visit Low's<a href="http://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/juliette-gordon-low/the-early-years/" target="_blank" target="_blank"> birthplace</a>, which was purchased by the Girl Scouts in 1953.

Girl Scout site, Georgia —

Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912, but the organization was formally incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1915 (PDF). That's reason enough to visit Low's birthplace, which was purchased by the Girl Scouts in 1953.

Stephen Morton/AP

Although it's named for tobacco magnate James B. "Buck" Duke,<a href="http://www.dukemansion.com/about/our-history.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank"> the Duke Mansion</a> in Charlotte was originally built by Zeb Taylor in 1915. It was purchased in 1919 by Duke, who tripled it in size for his daughter Doris. Buck Duke died in 1925 but started planning the Duke Endowment while living at the mansion. <a href="http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/uarchives/history/articles/narrative-history" target="_blank" target="_blank">With the endowment's gift of $19 million to Trinity College</a>, the institution was renamed Duke University. Today, the mansion hosts weddings and overnight visitors.

Duke Mansion, North Carolina —

Although it's named for tobacco magnate James B. "Buck" Duke, the Duke Mansion in Charlotte was originally built by Zeb Taylor in 1915. It was purchased in 1919 by Duke, who tripled it in size for his daughter Doris. Buck Duke died in 1925 but started planning the Duke Endowment while living at the mansion. With the endowment's gift of $19 million to Trinity College, the institution was renamed Duke University. Today, the mansion hosts weddings and overnight visitors.

Chris Edwards/The Duke Mansion

This canyon near Flagstaff was designated <a href="http://www.nps.gov/waca/historyculture/people.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Walnut Canyon National Monument</a> on November 30, 1915, to protect an area inhabited by nomadic people for thousands of years, and by permanent residents from 600 AD until 1400 AD. The cliffside dwellings beyond the canyon rim were constructed during the 1100s. Nearby railroad construction in the 1880s brought visitors back to the area and created a need to protect native gravesites and artifacts.

Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona —

This canyon near Flagstaff was designated Walnut Canyon National Monument on November 30, 1915, to protect an area inhabited by nomadic people for thousands of years, and by permanent residents from 600 AD until 1400 AD. The cliffside dwellings beyond the canyon rim were constructed during the 1100s. Nearby railroad construction in the 1880s brought visitors back to the area and created a need to protect native gravesites and artifacts.

Ken Thomas