Grand Canyon is one of the seven wonders of the world, even though it is not the deepest canyon on earth. The canyon is approximately one mile deep, and measures 277 river miles in length, bye 10 - 18 miles in width. The geological  history of North American is etched in the rock layers that have been preserved through intense erosion. The Pauite Indians called it Kaibab, meaning "Mountain lying down." In 1857, the United States government sent army surveyors to chart recently acquired territory following the war with Mexico. Lieutenant Joseph Ives was assigned to explore the Grand Canyon region. His report stated "The region...is of course altogether valueless...Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality." Later, in 1869, it was named the "Grand Canyon" by Major John Wesley Powell, who along with a group of nine men, entered the Canyon by boat.
Mather Point is the first vista point that visitors approach when the they enter the park from the south. It was named for Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. Almost a quarter of the Grand Canyon can be seen from this overlook, including spectacular views of Brahma Temple, Wotan's Throne and Zoroaster Temple. The Grand Canyon Lodge is located ten miles directly across from Mather Point. To reach it, you would have to drive a total of 210 miles around the outer rim of the canyon.
Hopi Point is located in what is known by geologists as the Canadian zone of the Grand Canyon. It has an elevation of 7,071 feet, maintains moderate temperatures and is landscaped with coniferous trees. Directly below Hopi Point lies Dana Butte, named after a prominent 19th-century geologist. A large portion of the Colorado River can be seen from here. At river level, 5,000 feet below the point, the environment changes dramatically to that which is typical of Mexico's Sonoran Desert, experiencing blazing summer temperatures and very little rainfall. Across the canyon, on the north rim, is Shiva Temple. This portion of the Kaibab Plateau remained isolated until 1937, when a expedition traveled to seek out life that had been cut off from the rest of the canyon. They were surprised to find an empty Kodak film box on top of the temple!
Continuing west along the south rim of the Grand Canyon, is Mohave Point, a favorite lookout, because of the views of Cheops Pyramid, a 5,401 foot rock formation behind Dana butte. Also visible are striking views of the Colorado River and Granite and Salt Creek rapids. In 1893, Grand Canyon received Federal protection as a Forest Reserve, and later as a National Monument. It did not achieve national park status until 1919. At that time annual visitation to the park was approximately 45,000. Today, over five million guests visit the Grand Canyon annually.
In the late 1880's pioneer settlements began to spring up along the rim of the canyon, as people came in search of natural mineral resources, mainly copper and asbestos. However, it was soon discovered that tourism would be more profitable than mining. At the turn of the century, the Fred Harvey Company,
 known throughout the west for hospitality and fine food, began continued to develop guest facilities, at what is known as Grand Canyon Village. The company established the first curio store at the canyon, the Hopi House, modeling it after buildings found in a Hopi Village in Oraibi, Arizona. Around the same time, two studios were erected in the Grand Canyon Village locale, because of the striking view the canyon presented from there. The Kolb Studio built in 1904 by the Kolb brothers, served as a photographic studio and development lab. Before water was piped into the village, Emery Kolb would go 3,300 feet down into the canyon daily, to fetch the water he needed to develop his prints. The second studio, Lookout Studio, now serves as a lookout, museum and gift shop. |
