Grand Canyon Historical Society

Grand Canyon Historical Society The Grand Canyon Historical Society: Where history runs deep. The Grand Canyon Historical Society was founded in 1984 in Flagstaff.

The Grand Canyon Historical Society is a non-profit corporation under IRS Code 501(c)(3), whose mission is to study and preserve the history of sites, historical photographs and artifacts of Grand Canyon and surrounding areas; and to support the restoration of sites and buildings at Grand Canyon National Park. Originally called the Grand Canyon Pioneers Society, the name was changed in 2002.

in 2019, Al Richmond gave a fun presentation on covering an historical overview of the railroads connected to the Grand ...
06/20/2026

in 2019, Al Richmond gave a fun presentation on covering an historical overview of the railroads connected to the Grand Canyon, tracing the development and impact of multiple railway lines from the late 19th century to present day. Watch at: https://youtu.be/nfjRANDRak8

Audio quality on this one is poor, but still understandable

114 years ago, June 7, 1912, B. L. Graves of the Ford Motor Company, returned to Kingman, Arizona, boasting that he was ...
06/19/2026

114 years ago, June 7, 1912, B. L. Graves of the Ford Motor Company, returned to Kingman, Arizona, boasting that he was the first person to drive a car to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He drove a route north of Peach Springs, along Diamond Creek, and reached Diamond Creek Beach on the Colorado River in his Model T touring car he called “The Horned Toad.”

He descended more than 3,500 feet and was accompanied by a newspaper reporter. Graves said, “There probably is no worse road in the world. Deep in sand for more than half the distance with abrupt descents of 30 percent grades.” He brought with him sticks of dynamite to blast rocks blocking his path. The car tipped over once. Other times it bottomed out and had to be jacked up to get unstuck. It took seven hours to drive 22 miles.

On this day, 40 years ago, June 18, 1986, a tourist helicopter collided with a tourist twin-engine plane, crashing in th...
06/18/2026

On this day, 40 years ago, June 18, 1986, a tourist helicopter collided with a tourist twin-engine plane, crashing in the inner Grand Canyon near Crystal Rapids, about ten miles downriver from the Phantom Ranch area. All 25 people onboard both aircraft perished. Here is a short video about the tragic event.
https://youtu.be/Wl3XadFIXEo

In 2019, Ed Oetting gave an interesting presentation about Senator Carl Hayden's role in the establishment of Grand Cany...
06/17/2026

In 2019, Ed Oetting gave an interesting presentation about Senator Carl Hayden's role in the establishment of Grand Canyon National Park in 1919.
Watch it at: https://youtu.be/mOaNOiaoqzM

He highlights the complex interplay of federal government interests, local businesses and conservationist concerns, and key political figures that shaped the transformation from a national monument to a national park.

116 years ago, in June 1910, a rich woman, Mrs. Sargent, wife of an “eastern capitalist,” was with a group on an outing ...
06/16/2026

116 years ago, in June 1910, a rich woman, Mrs. Sargent, wife of an “eastern capitalist,” was with a group on an outing on the north side of the canyon. An important telegram needed to be delivered to her. Photographer Emery Kolb, age 29, volunteered.

“There were no horses fast enough for him, so he decided to make it on foot. There was no one to draw the cage (cable tram) across the river, so it was up to him to go overhand across the 450 ft. cable on a little car. The thermometer registered over 100 degrees in the shade, which made the cable terrifically hot. But on he went.”

Kolb had to ford Bright Angel Creek many times and in 6.5 hours, he caught up to the group that had a two-day head start. He delivered the telegram and then returned. Mrs. Sergeant went on with her group to visit Rainbow Bridge.

33 years ago yesterday, on June 15, 1993, Grand Canyon rim-to-rim pioneer, Charlie Thornton (1912-1993) died after falli...
06/16/2026

33 years ago yesterday, on June 15, 1993, Grand Canyon rim-to-rim pioneer, Charlie Thornton (1912-1993) died after falling from a cliff while hiking in the Catalina Mountains above Tucson, Arizona. He is recognized as the founder of the idea to hike rim-to-rim in a day. In 1956, he led a group of blind boys from Tucson’s School for the Deaf and Blind on a rim-to-rim hike that took only 12 hours. This turned into an annual hike into the 1960s.

Watch a short video about Thornton: https://youtu.be/Fu6132W3jU4

On this day, 97 years ago, June 14, 1929, the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River was dedicated in Marble Canyon. It m...
06/15/2026

On this day, 97 years ago, June 14, 1929, the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River was dedicated in Marble Canyon. It made it possible to save hundreds of miles of auto travel to visit both the South Rim and the North Rim.

It was 835 feet long and 467 feet above the river and was at first called during construction "Grand Canyon Bridge," and then "Lees Ferry Bridge." Four governors attended the dedication: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico, along with about 5,000 people who made the trek in about 1,500 cars into the remote desert. In 1934, the bridge was renamed “Navajo Bridge," appropriate because half of the funds to build the bridge came from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

From Davy Crockett's book, "Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History."

Happy 104th birthday to Phantom Ranch, which was opened on June 15, 1922. Here is a short video about its early years an...
06/15/2026

Happy 104th birthday to Phantom Ranch, which was opened on June 15, 1922. Here is a short video about its early years and what it was like to stay there.
https://youtu.be/2C_KNKH5VRg

100 years ago, in June 1926, an article was published nationwide encouraging to use automobiles to visit the Grand Canyo...
06/14/2026

100 years ago, in June 1926, an article was published nationwide encouraging to use automobiles to visit the Grand Canyon. This 1926 map showed the huge distance that it would take to travel from the South Rim to the North Rim before the Navajo Bridge.

"HIghway improvements and better tourist accommodation are encouraging motor travel to the Grand Canyon."

From Davy Crockett's book, "Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History."

In 2019, a presentation was made about Louis Schellbach III, renowned as Mr. Grand Canyon, a dedicated naturalist whose ...
06/13/2026

In 2019, a presentation was made about Louis Schellbach III, renowned as Mr. Grand Canyon, a dedicated naturalist whose life’s work significantly contributed to understanding and preserving the Grand Canyon's natural, archaeological, and cultural heritage. Watch this video: https://youtu.be/JPbyYNxyH1c

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PO Box 62
Flagstaff, AZ
86002

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