February 26th 1919 - Congress passes bill to establish Grand Canyon National Park. It was titled: “An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona.” Comprised of over a million acres, the park included a two billion year old 277 mile gorge. The fight to preserve the area began in 1882 when Sen. Benjamin Harrison (R-Ind), introduced the first bill and it failed to pass. Although it was established as a National Reserve, subsequent bills to make it a national park failed in 1883, 1886, 1910, and 1911. In 1919 it finally made its way through the House and Senate and President Wilson signed it into law. President Teddy Roosevelt spoke these words when he visited the Grand Canyon. “The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison — beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world... Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to 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.”
This Day in History
This Day in History
This Day in History
February 26th 1919 - Congress passes bill to establish Grand Canyon National Park. It was titled: “An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona.” Comprised of over a million acres, the park included a two billion year old 277 mile gorge. The fight to preserve the area began in 1882 when Sen. Benjamin Harrison (R-Ind), introduced the first bill and it failed to pass. Although it was established as a National Reserve, subsequent bills to make it a national park failed in 1883, 1886, 1910, and 1911. In 1919 it finally made its way through the House and Senate and President Wilson signed it into law. President Teddy Roosevelt spoke these words when he visited the Grand Canyon. “The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison — beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world... Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to 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.”