|  1908 Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument.
On January 11, 1908 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declares the massive Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona a national monument.
Though Native Americans lived in the area as early as the 13th century, the first European sighting of the canyon wasn't unil 1540, by members of an expedition headed by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasques de Coronado. Because of its remote and inaccessible location, several centuries passed before North American settlers really explored the canyon. In 1869, geologist John Wesley Powell led a group of 10 men in the first dificult journey down the rapids of the Colorado River and along the length of the 277 mile gorge in four rowboats. By the end of the 19th century, the Grand Canyoj was attracting thousands fo toursits each year. One famous visitor was President Theodore Roosevelt, a New Yorker with a particula affection for the American West. Elected in 1901, Roosevelt made environmental conservation a major part of his presidency. After establishing the National Wildlife Refuge to protect the country's animals, fish and birds, Roosevelt turned his attention to federal regulation of public lands. Though a region could be given national park status, indicating that all private development on that land was illegal nly by an act of Congress, Roosevel cut down on red tap by beginning a new presidential practice of granting a similar "national monument" designation to som eog the West's greates treasures. In January 1908, Roosevelt exercised this right ot make more than 800,000 acres of the Grand Canyon area into a national monument. "Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is" he declared. "You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is keep it for your children, you childrens children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see." Congress did not officially outlaw private development in the Grand Canyon unitl 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act. Today, more than 5 million people visit the canyon each year. The Canyon floor is accessible by foot, mule or boat, and whitewater rafting, hiking and running in the area are expecially popular. Many choose to conserve their energies and simply take in the breathtaking view form the canyon's South Rimsome 7,000 feet above sea level, and marvel at a vista virtually unchanged for over 400 years.
Do you have some interesting History fact to share?
|
