One of the most breathtaking natural wonders on Earth, the Grand Canyon, officially became a U.S. National Park, ensuring its protection for future generations.
A Landmark Worth Preserving
For centuries, the Grand Canyon had inspired awe in all who laid eyes upon it. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, its vast chasms and layered rock formations told the story of Earth’s deep geological past. Native American tribes such as the Hopi, Havasupai, and Navajo had long revered the canyon as a sacred site. Spanish explorers stumbled upon it in 1540, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that calls for its preservation gained momentum.
The Fight to Protect the Grand Canyon
By the late 1800s, miners and developers saw the Grand Canyon as an untapped resource. John Wesley Powell’s daring expeditions down the Colorado River in the 1860s and 1870s drew national attention to its majesty, while entrepreneurs sought to capitalize on tourism. However, conservationists, led by President Theodore Roosevelt, argued that this natural wonder should be protected.
Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon in 1903 and was so struck by its beauty that he declared:
“Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.”
In 1908, Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to designate the canyon as a National Monument, shielding it from excessive development. But full national park status, which would provide even stronger protections, remained elusive due to opposition from mining interests.
Becoming a National Park
After years of lobbying by conservationists, Congress finally passed the Grand Canyon National Park Act, and on February 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law. The Grand Canyon officially became the 17th U.S. National Park, ensuring that its stunning vistas, diverse ecosystems, and rich cultural history would be preserved.
The Grand Canyon Today
Now attracting over 6 million visitors annually, the Grand Canyon remains one of the most iconic natural sites in the world. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and efforts continue to protect its fragile ecosystems from threats such as climate change and commercial development.
Roosevelt’s vision lives on—one of the planet’s most spectacular landscapes remains, as he wished, untouched by human hands.
