History of Grand Canyon in Timeline
The Grand Canyon is a steep canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. It stretches 277 miles in length, reaches a width of up to 18 miles, and plunges to depths exceeding one mile. It is one of the most famous and visited natural landmarks in the United States.
1902: Powell's Directorship of U.S. Bureau of Ethnology ends
Powell's directorship of the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution ended in 1902.
1903: Theodore Roosevelt visits the Grand Canyon
In 1903, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, visited the Grand Canyon.
1903: National Weather Service station established on South Rim
In 1903, the National Weather Service established a cooperative station on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
November 28, 1906: Grand Canyon Game Preserve established
On November 28, 1906, Theodore Roosevelt established the Grand Canyon Game Preserve, reducing livestock grazing and eradicating predators.
January 11, 1908: Grand Canyon becomes a U.S. National Monument
On January 11, 1908, adjacent national forest lands were added and the Grand Canyon Game Preserve was redesignated a U.S. National Monument.
1908: Grand Canyon becomes a National Monument
In 1908, the Grand Canyon was officially designated as a National Monument.
1916: Start of naturalized streamflow data in the Upper Colorado River Basin
From 1916 to 2014, naturalized streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin decreased by 16.5%.
January 1, 1919: Record low temperature on the South Rim
On January 1, 1919, the record low temperature of −20 °F (−29 °C) was recorded on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
February 26, 1919: Grand Canyon National Park established
On February 26, 1919, the Grand Canyon National Park was established as the 17th U.S. National Park by an Act of Congress signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
1919: Grand Canyon becomes a National Park
In 1919, the Grand Canyon was officially designated as a National Park.
1926: First dual distribution water system built on South Rim
In 1926, the first dual distribution water system in the United States was built on the South Rim, treating and reclaiming wastewater for nonpotable reuse.
1950: Groundwater contains a fraction of modern water
Groundwater at sites across the Grand Canyon region contain a fraction of modern water (post-1950), indicating a mix of recent and older water sources.
June 30, 1956: Mid-air Collision Over Grand Canyon
On the morning of June 30, 1956, a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation and a United Airlines Douglas DC-7 collided above the Grand Canyon.
1956: Commercial Aviation Disaster
In 1956, the Grand Canyon was the site of the deadliest commercial aviation disaster in history at the time.
1963: Glen Canyon Dam construction changes Grand Canyon ecosystem
In 1963, the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam significantly altered the Grand Canyon's ecosystem by reducing average flood levels.
June 26, 1974: Record high temperature recorded on the South Rim
On June 26, 1974, the record high temperature of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
September 1, 1981: Groundwater sampling started
On September 1, 1981, a study began examining samples of groundwater from 180 spring sites and 26 wells in the Grand Canyon region to assess the presence of uranium.
1984: Last Aerial Video Footage Filmed Below the Rim
In 1984, the last aerial video footage from below the rim of the Grand Canyon was filmed.
February 1, 1985: Record low temperature on the South Rim
On February 1, 1985, the record low temperature of −20 °F (−29 °C) was recorded on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
December 23, 1990: Record low temperature on the South Rim
On December 23, 1990, the record low temperature of −20 °F (−29 °C) was recorded on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
1990: Amendments to the Clean Air Act established the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission
In 1990, amendments to the Clean Air Act established the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC).
1992: Activity ceased at Pinyon Plain Mine
Activity at the Pinyon Plain Mine (formerly Canyon Uranium Mine) had ceased in 1992, ten years prior to the moratorium on new development in 2012.
1996: Federal officials start releasing floods in the Grand Canyon
In 1996, Federal officials started releasing floods in the Grand Canyon in hopes of restoring its ecosystem.
1996: GCVTC releases its final report
In 1996, the GCVTC released its final report and initiated the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP).
1997: Scrubbers added to Navajo Generating Station units
From 1997 through 1999, scrubbers were added to the Navajo Generating Station's three units to reduce SO2 emissions by 90%.
1999: Grand Canyon area had some of the cleanest air in the United States
As of 1999, the Grand Canyon area had some of the cleanest air in the United States.
1999: Scrubbers added to Navajo Generating Station units
From 1997 through 1999, scrubbers were added to the Navajo Generating Station's three units to reduce SO2 emissions by 90%.
1999: Regional Haze Rule established
In 1999, the Regional Haze Rule was established with the goal of restoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas to natural background levels by 2064.
2001: Analysis of Fatalities (1869 to 2001)
An analysis of fatalities from 1869 to 2001 revealed causes such as falls, environmental factors, flash floods, drownings, and plane crashes.
September 2003: Visitor Survey Conducted
In September 2003, a survey of visitors to the Grand Canyon was conducted to gather information about the demographics of park attendees.
2003: Mining claims requested adjacent to the canyon
Between 2003 and 2011, 2,215 mining claims had been requested adjacent to the canyon.
August 2004: Visitor Survey Conducted
Through August 2004, a survey of visitors to the Grand Canyon was conducted to gather information about the demographics of park attendees.
2004: Federal officials release floods in the Grand Canyon
In 2004, Federal officials released floods in the Grand Canyon in hopes of restoring its ecosystem.
2005: Mohave Generating Station shuts down
In 2005, the Mohave Generating Station was shut down, completely eliminating its emissions.
2007: Grand Canyon Skywalk Opened
In 2007, the glass-bottomed Grand Canyon Skywalk was opened on the Hualapai reservation, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
2008: Federal officials release floods in the Grand Canyon
In 2008, Federal officials released floods in the Grand Canyon in hopes of restoring its ecosystem.
2008: Rebecca Flowers reports on apatite thermochronometry results
In 2008, Rebecca Flowers reported apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry results suggesting that parts of the Grand Canyon had reached a depth near to the modern depth around 20 million years ago.
2008: Victor Polyak examines Grand Canyon caves
In 2008, Victor Polyak's study, published in Science, dated the origins of caves near the Grand Canyon to approximately 17 million years ago using uranium-lead dating of calcite deposits.
2008: National Park Service sets goals to reduce greenhouse gases
In the National Park Service's "Climate Action Plan," goals were set to reduce greenhouse gases 30 percent below 2008 levels by 2020.
2009: Low-NOx SOFA burners installed at Navajo Generating Station
From 2009–2011, low-NOx SOFA burners were installed at the Navajo Generating Station, reducing emissions of NOx by 40%.
2009: U.S. Interior Secretary publishes Notice of Intent to suspend approvals for new uranium mining
In 2009, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar published a Notice of Intent to suspend approvals for new uranium mining in the Grand Canyon area.
2011: Mining claims requested adjacent to the canyon
Between 2003 and 2011, 2,215 mining claims had been requested adjacent to the canyon.
2011: Low-NOx SOFA burners installed at Navajo Generating Station
From 2009–2011, low-NOx SOFA burners were installed at the Navajo Generating Station, reducing emissions of NOx by 40%.
2012: Salazar establishes a 20-year moratorium
In 2012, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar established a 20-year moratorium withdrawing 1 million acres from uranium and hardrock mining permitting.
2012: Federal government's moratorium
In 2012, the federal government implemented a moratorium.
2012: Ten years prior to the moratorium on new development
In 2012, the moratorium on new development happened.
2012: Rebecca Flowers suggests western Grand Canyon could be 70 million years old
In a study published in Science in 2012, Rebecca Flowers suggested that the western part of the Grand Canyon could be as old as 70 million years.
November 2014: National Mining Association v. Jewell
In November 2014, the moratorium was appealed as National Mining Association v. Jewell (No. 14-17350).
2014: End of naturalized streamflow data in the Upper Colorado River Basin
From 1916 to 2014, naturalized streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin decreased by 16.5%.
2014: Grand Canyon Escalade Project Announced
In 2014, plans were announced for the Grand Canyon Escalade, a multimedia complex featuring shops, an IMAX theater, hotels, and a gondola for canyon access.
2015: Death Toll Counted
By 2015, approximately 770 deaths had occurred in the Grand Canyon between the mid-1800s and 2015.
2016: Grand Canyon Skydiving Operation Opens
In 2016, skydiving at the Grand Canyon became possible with the opening of the first Grand Canyon Skydiving operation at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, on the South Rim.
October 31, 2017: Navajo Nation Council Voted Against Grand Canyon Escalade Project
On October 31, 2017, the Navajo Nation Council voted against the Grand Canyon Escalade project.
2017: Moratorium upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
In 2017, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the moratorium, affirming the Secretary of the Interior's withdrawal authority.
2018: Department of Interior experiments with "adaptive management" of the Glen Canyon Dam
In 2018, the Department of Interior began experimenting with "adaptive management" of the Glen Canyon Dam, using a High-Flow Experiment (HFE) water release.
2019: Plans proposed to replace the Transcanyon Pipeline
As of 2019, plans to replace the aging 16-mile aluminum Transcanyon Pipeline were proposed.
2019: Navajo Generating Station shuts down completely
In 2019, the Navajo Generating Station shut down completely.
October 3, 2020: Charlie Haeger Found Dead
On October 3, 2020, former Major League Baseball player Charlie Haeger was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a canyon trail.
October 7, 2020: Groundwater sampling ended
A study examining samples of groundwater from 180 spring sites and 26 wells in the Grand Canyon region ended on October 7, 2020.
2020: National Park Service sets goals to reduce greenhouse gases
In the National Park Service's "Climate Action Plan," goals were set to reduce greenhouse gases 30 percent below 2008 levels by 2020.
February 22, 2022: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects arguments in Havasupai Tribe v. Provencio
On February 22, 2022, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments in No. 20-16401, concluding that the Forest Service had not acted arbitrarily in its decision regarding the Pinyon Plain Mine.
2022: Drought delays water release from Glen Canyon Dam
As of 2022, extreme drought caused water levels in Lake Powell to drop, delaying a planned water release to ensure the Glen Canyon Dam can generate hydropower.
August 8, 2023: Biden to designate Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
On August 8, 2023, it was announced that U.S. President Joe Biden will designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
2064: Goal to restore visibility in national parks
In 1999, the Regional Haze Rule established a goal of restoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas to natural background levels by 2064.
