1 mile deep, 10 miles wide, and 277 miles long, the Grand Canyon is a sight to behold (image courtesy of PDPhoto.org)
On February 26, 1919 President Woodrow Wilson created our nation’s seventeenth national park and placed it under the management of the then three-year-old National Park Service.
The elevation of the Grand Canyon to national park status began in the late 1890’s in an environment not unlike the one we are experiencing today. Public opinion was beginning to turn against the rampant excesses of industrialization that marked the post-Civil War period and the ideals of conservation and preservation began to take root in America.
President Wilson got all of the glory, but credit is also owed to Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt. As a senator from Indiana, Harrison unsuccessfully introduced legislation to protect the Grand Canyon in 1882, 1883, and 1886. As President, Harrison created the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893.
Roosevelt would first visit the Grand Canyon in 1903, and worked to enhance its protective status, culminating in the creation of the Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908.
Postcard circa 1910, showing a view of the Grand Canyon from the El Tovar Hotel (Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
California Condors were re-introduced in May of 1997 (photo courtesy of Cecelia Overby)
A view from the South Rim. The park is divided into the North Rim and South Rim by the Colorado River (photo courtesy of PDPhoto.org)
A view from Rowe's Point (now Hopi Point) on the South Rim, circa 1900 (photo courtesy of Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
I hope you enjoyed my small tribute to one of our nation’s greatest parks on this, its 90th anniversary.
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Thanks, Ray – I’m almost counting the days until my (now) 4-year old son is old enough to tackle the canyon.
Great post. I have the opportunity of hiking the Grand Canyon regularly for a family-owned business. We’re lucky in this country to have this Natural Wonder. P.S.: Love the historical photographs.
Ray’s last blog post..Wilderness Safety at Yosemite
Happy Birthday Canyon
I have a 18×23 1910 picture in it original frame and glass
It is sign with the stamp Putnam Valentine
It was taken from Hope Point
It is 100 years old in 2010
If intereted eme at address above
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Love the photo of the condor. Really well done. Also the image in the caption.
No doubt about that, Kevin! That’s why I included some vintage stuff – something a little out of the ordinary.
You always hear people using the term, pictures do not do it justice… well as nice as your pictures are, the Grand Canyon is just one of those places you have to see to get the full impact. It really is an awesome awesome place. Good blog.
Kevin’s last blog post..Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
I was 5 or 6 the last time I was there, Eddie. I remember hiking down the canyon and passing a bunch of people on mules, coming back up the trail. One of the riders had been hit by a falling rock and was all messed-up. Can’t wait to go back someday – probably the North Rim, this time.
Nice pictures Roy,I have never been to the Grand Canyon but someday i hope to go.I can remember my grandparents,telling me how awsome and unreal it feels to lookout over the lookouts.