In 1941, legendary photographer Ansel Adams was hired to shoot national parks for a photo mural at the Department of the Interior in Washington. With the escalation of World War II, the project was suspended. But before its abrupt end, Adams had created a series of 226 incredible images, including several from the Grand Canyon in 1942. Grand Canyon National Park turns 97 on Friday, February 26.
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Grand Canyon earns its name with this incredible view down the canyon. The park stretches along 277 miles of the Colorado River, running through the canyon bottom. While the canyon's width varies, it measures 18 miles in several places.
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Growing up in Northern California, Adams fell in love with nature. He spent a lot of time exploring Yosemite National Park and working there several summers as a teenager. He joined the Sierra Club and became friends with many founders of America's young conservation movement, committing to preserve the country's wild spaces. His pictures, like this one of a canyon and ravine in the Grand Canyon, spoke eloquently for his cause.
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"To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer," Adams said.
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Adams advocated for the preservation of wilderness and the national parks system, which turns 100 this year. He also fought against what he called overdevelopment of the national parks and their domination by private concessionaires.
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While Europe had its castles and grand culture, the young United States found its pride and identity in stunning mountains, enormous waterfalls, great sequoias and canyons grander than any castle.
