..... RJZ RIGHWAT/S OP P OSITE PAGE FRON T COVER "RAINBOW IN THE CANYON" BY CHUCK ABBOTT. T he moods "CANYON D EPTHS" BY ESTHER HENDERSON. Man and his of Grand Canyon change with each passing moment, day by day, merrymaking is dwarfed, indeed, by the depth and immensity of Grand season by season. I t refl ects a ll the nuances of time and the weather. Canyon. One may spend hours read ing the yardstick m easurements of It is never lovelier, though. than when a storm comes up and a rainbow the Canyon itself, and yet not be prepared fo r the feelin g of bi gness is formed to lend enchantment to enchantment. that the C anyon gives with its first view. THE GRANDEST CANYON Of THEM All The Grand Canyon is all things to all people. To the less books and dissertations tell ing the Canyon story, and probably inspired it is just a hole in the ground. To others, it is cosmic the real story will still be untold. poetry. It is hard to describe because the Canyon we see today The Canyon has inspired a lot of poetry. We refer you with is not the Canyon we saw yesterday or will see tomorrow. pride and pleasure ( to prove our point) to E lizabeth Fleming This issue is devoted to the Canyon subject. We have tried McFarland's "T his is the Grand Canyon" published herein. to p ut together, in word and picture, a glimpse, at least, of a Mrs. McFarland has devoted years of research to the Canyon been place that has been descri bed as the "titan of chasms" and as subject and quotes some of the famous poets who have inspired by the grandest canyon of them all. We feel this is "one of the seven wonders of the earth." When we say glimpse, one of the most notable articles ever to grace our pages and please do not accuse us of understatement. In these few pages we know you wi ll enjoy reading it just as much as we enjoy there is room only for a s urface treatment o f something that presenting it to you. has inspired wri ters and artists through all the years it has We also take you on a vacation tour of the Canyon (both the books been known by civilized man. If you could gather all R ims) te ll ing you where you can stay, how much it costs and that have been written about the Canyon, you would have a what you can do. Y ou'll find a Canyon vacation a lot of fun. sizable library. If you doubt that, consult "The Books of the More and more thousands do each year. Colorado River and the Grand Canyon," a selective bibli­ As freq uent visitors to the Canyon, w e never cease to be ography by Francis P. Farquhar (Glen Dawson-Los Angeles, amazed by the effi cient way the area is administered by the 1953, $5 .00). One's head literally spins when one reads the National Park Service. In closing, we would like to acknowl­ titles li sted by Mr. Farquh ar that are devoted to description. edge the debt all of us owe to our devoted public servants who appreciation, explanation of Grand Canyon. Long after all of protect so well one of our greatest national treasures. To them, us are gone, presses in the future will continue to grind out are these pages humbly dedicated .. .. R . C. Vol. XXX No. 3 MARCH 1954 RAYMOND CARLSON, Editor GEORGE M. AVEY, Art Editor HOWARD PYLE Governor of Arizana AR IZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION C . A. Calhoun, Chairman . Mesa John M . Scott, V ice-Chairman . Show Low Freel D . Schemmer, Member Prescott Presents Fra nk E. Moore, Member . D ouglas Grover J. Duff, Member . Tucson P atrick C. Downey, Secretary Phoenix THE R. C. P erkins, State H wy. Engr. Phoenix Thad G. Baker, Special Counsel Phoenix GRAND CANYON of ARIZO NA HIGHWAYS is published monthly b y t he Arizona Arizona Highway Department a few miles north of the confl uence of the Gila and Sal t in Arizona. Address: ARIZO NA H IGHWAYS, Phoenix, Arizona. $3.00 per year in U. S. and possessions; $3.50 elsewhere: 35 cents each. Entered as second-class matter Nov. 5, 1941 at Post Office in Phoenix, under Act of March 3. 1879. Copyrighted, 1954, by Arizona Highway Department. ~ 115 Allow fi ve weeks for change of addresses. Be sure to send in the old as well as new address. GRANO CANYON NAT I ONAL vastly different and separated as they are by the mighty rnoclati ons, tra nsportation, shops and services and whose chasm th eir approaches involve considerable geography. Sea­ hospitality roles are of prime importance in developing the sons will play an important part in your plans and your own Grand Canyon's prominence as the foremost scenic attraction interest and temperament will define in part your wants and in the U nited States. establish your selection of activities. Within the area you As your offi cial hosts the Park Service employes depict to can run the range of variation in climate from sub-tropic at the highest essence the philosophy of this agency - that the the Canyon floor to the Canadian zone on the North Rim. splendor of unsurpassed nature is for the appreciation , the The South Rim, about 7000 feet elevation, may have a tem­ understanding and the enjoyment of all people. Their services perature of 90° in August, while the North Rim, some 1200 are offered to you free as part of your heritage in this country feet high er, will be a cool 80° and there is likely to be 110° and likewise extended in the spirit of American friendship to weath er at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the gorge, only travelers from throughout the world. The only charge made 2500 feet above sea level. by the Park Service is the entrance fee for those who drive, The rock-opened chapters of geological history are re­ $1 per automobile or motorcycle and $1 per trailer. Of in­ vealed at the Grand Canyon as in no other one spot, from terest to many is the information that you are permitted to the oldest to the newest the chapters are written into the bring your pets into the Park, the only stipulation being that walls. The many zones of life and the ecology of nature are they must be kept on leash at all times. displayed in a small locale not found anywhere else and offer To return to the prosaic , you still want to know, "What a laboratory for gathering information that might otherwise can I do at the Grand Canyon?" Your own interest will deter­ have to be sought over many continents. Here is a paradise mine to a large extent what you will want to do, but some by for artists and photographers with the full glory of nature's are musts if you are truly to appreciate this splendor of FRANKLIN colors before you. Here, too, the beckoning out-of-doors nature. Since the variance in seasons and natural endowments and offers leisure walks for everyone and the more avid are is so great we will present the North and South Rims sepa­ J EA N.N E · S. GRAND challenged by remote peaks and canyons and the web of rately, their activities, accommodations and methods of trans­ NATIONAL PARK-ARIZONA trails that descend into the gorge. And to one just seeking portation. rest, rel axation and repletion of mystery and magnificence, SOUTH RIM the Canyon calls - "come unto me - bring your worries, Like all great works of nature an explanation of this phe­ your burdens, your skepticism, your frustrations and I will nomenon is necessary if you are to comprehend its magnitude. Everybody wants to see the Grand Canyon of Arizona. more of the mystic spell of the mighty gorge. The pressure give you peace and faith and power. I will open for you The naturalist programs of the Park Service are the perfect At least that is a fa ir conclusion because over nine million of on-coming visitors prevents an extension of reservations in trails of new concerns and greater dimensions." answers and it cannot be emphasized too strongly the need visitors have been awed by its splendor since the site became these busy months and gives wisdom to the suggestion of Let it be said that actually if you stay around the Grand for the expert interpretation of scholarly men if your visit is a National Park in 19 19. Of these millions who have come planning your own vacation if possible at a slightly off­ Canyon you will find yourself drawn to its Rim, spending far to be memorable and meaningful. The South Rim, since it is many have lamentingly exclaimed - "Why didn't we plan to season time. Last year some 729,181 persons came to the more time than you now imagine, sitting on a rock ledge open all year, can offer more permanent facilities for this stay longer?" or "We surely must come back again." The Canyon, and whichever month they arrived found unsur­ leaning back against a pinon or spruce tree just looking presentation. At Yavapai Observation Station, just one and a fact remains that one cannot comprehend the greatness of passed vistas to inspire them, for you can greatly enjoy a out over the vast expanse. While you watch, the changing half miles from Grand Canyon Village, much of the Canyon the Canyon by a quickie vi sit.