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 until 1540,
by members of an expedition headed by the Spanish explorer Francisco
Vasquez 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 difficult 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 Canyon was attracting
thousands of tourists each year. One famous visitor was President
Theodore Roosevelt, a New Yorker with a particular affection for the
American West. After becoming president in 1901 after the
assassination of President William McKinley, 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--only by an act of Congress, Roosevelt cut down on red tape by
beginning a new presidential practice of granting a similar "national
monument" designation to some of the West's greatest treasures.
In January 1908, Roosevelt exercised this right to 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, your children's 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 until 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
especially popular. Many choose to conserve their energies and simply
take in the breathtaking view from the canyon's South Rim--some 7,000
feet above sea level--and marvel at a vista virtually unchanged for
over 400 years.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1908 : Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52340
1775 : First elected Jew in the New World
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4667
1928 : Stalin banishes Trotsky
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6773
1935 : Earhart flies from Hawaii to California
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4668
1949 : Cornerstone laid at Washington's Islamic Center
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4669
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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 until 1540,
by members of an expedition headed by the Spanish explorer Francisco
Vasquez 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 difficult 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 Canyon was attracting
thousands of tourists each year. One famous visitor was President
Theodore Roosevelt, a New Yorker with a particular affection for the
American West. After becoming president in 1901 after the
assassination of President William McKinley, 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--only by an act of Congress, Roosevelt cut down on red tape by
beginning a new presidential practice of granting a similar "national
monument" designation to some of the West's greatest treasures.
In January 1908, Roosevelt exercised this right to 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, your children's 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 until 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
especially popular. Many choose to conserve their energies and simply
take in the breathtaking view from the canyon's South Rim--some 7,000
feet above sea level--and marvel at a vista virtually unchanged for
over 400 years.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1908 : Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52340
1775 : First elected Jew in the New World
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4667
1928 : Stalin banishes Trotsky
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6773
1935 : Earhart flies from Hawaii to California
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4668
1949 : Cornerstone laid at Washington's Islamic Center
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4669
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