A Brief History of Tourism in the Grand Canyon

Before departing on Papillon Grand Canyon helicopter tours, it is worth your time to familiarize

yourself with some of the history of this National Park to make your visit more enjoyable. As

you are flying over this natural wonder, you will better appreciate the truly stunning landscapes

and scenery. For those who are experiencing the park up close with a ground Grand Canyon tour,

knowing the history puts you in a sense of awe about those earlier explorers, who walked many

of the same trails you walk today—after having walked or ridden all the way there to do so.

How Was the Grand Canyon Formed?

The Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River over millions of years. Originally, the

river flowed on top of the Canyon. Over time, and several millions of years, the water cut

through the ground and eroded it away to create what we see today. As the river got deeper, wind

erosion also helped form many of the Canyon’s walls. The sides of the Canyon’s walls allow us

to see various environmental conditions of the different layers of earth, from the sediments left in

each one.

Previous Inhabitants of the Grand Canyon

Native Americans have lived in the Grand Canyon region for thousands of years. Archaeologists

have found signs of ancient nomadic tribes throughout the region, from uncovered pottery,

weapons, and other materials preserved in the ground. Some of these findings have been carbon

dated to about 2000 BC. Some of the more common nomadic tribes known to have inhabited the

region include Ancestral Puebloan, Cerbat, Havasupai, Haulapai, Dine, and Navajo tribes. The

Navajo still have a reservation today, along the eastern side of the Grand Canyon.

Who Discovered the Grand Canyon?

The U.S. Army conducted a survey of the area in the mid-1800s, and initially concluded there

was no economic benefit to the United States. In 1869, John Wesley Powell was the first to

traverse over a thousand miles through the Canyon’s floor, traveling down the Colorado River. A

second expedition was conducted in 1871 into areas previously unexplored. The name “Grand

Canyon” was originally used by Mr. Powell to describe the region. Obviously, the name caught

on, as that is what the region is still called today.

When Did the Grand Canyon Become a Tourist Destination?

Initially, the Grand Canyon was not a tourist destination. After Mr. Powell’s expeditions, many

people flocked to the area to try their hand at mining, in hopes there was gold. Instead, miners

found copper, lead, asbestos, and zinc. Mining the Canyon provided challenging, in itself,

because of the high costs and little profits. Many miners gave up this venture and instead focused

on tourism, by building railroads and lodging, as well as developing trails through the Canyon. In

1893 the Grand Canyon received Federal protections as a National Monument and a Forest

Reserve. It was not until 1919 that the Canyon became part of the National Park Service. In 1919

a little over 44,000 tourists visited the Canyon—a big difference from the over 5 million tourists

who visit the site annually today.

Grand Canyon Tourism Today

The Grand Canyon offers a wide array of tourism and activities, depending upon the amount of

time you want to spend in this National Park. There are daily Grand Canyon tours from Las

Vegas, helicopter tours, and overnight excursions. The National Park Service does require people

visiting the Canyon who are not part of a tour group to obtain the right permits ahead of time if

they intend to camp and hike in certain areas.