We left Utah and headed south and found ourselves in Williams, Arizona. Home of the Grand Canyon, and the historic Route 66. We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park.
For years, the Grand Canyon Railway traveled the scenic landscapes leading to one of the world's greatest natural wonders, beginning at the charming depot located in the heart of Williams, Arizona. The train first arrived at the South Rim on September 17, 1901, but then came the era of the automobile, when many of the great American railways were lost to both time and progress.
Today, the Grand Canyon Railway once again takes tens of thousands of passengers into the Grand Canyon National Park by way of vintage train service every year. The Grand Canyon Railway's re-debut on the tracks was in 1989 and once again the melodic cacophony of a train whistle can be heard for miles.
Grand Canyon Railway offers its guests the opportunity to relive history - both en route to the canyon and in its restored, vintage locomotives and passenger cars.
John and I boarded our Luxury Parlor Car at 9:15 for our 2 hour 15 minute ride to the Grand Canyon. The Parlor Car is a grand tradition of elegance and comfort. There was an outside open-air platform to view the scenery and wildlife along the route. On our journey to the Grand Canyon fresh fruit, pastries, coffee and juice were offered. On the return trip we were offered cheese, crackers, veggies and dip and prior to our arrival back in Williams sparkling wine was also served. The air-conditioned car also featured a wood bar, serving fine spirits. We decided this is a wonderful way to travel!!
Our layover time at the Grand Canyon was 3 hours 45 minutes. During that time we took a bus tour to the rim of the Canyon. Have to say this is a very impressive place!!!!
The Grand Canyon National Park is the United States 15th oldest national park and is located in Arizona.
The park is 1,904 square miles. Length is 277 river miles. The width from rim to rim average is 18 miles. (Although to drive from the south rim to the north rim is 215 miles around). Average depth is 1 mile. Rim Elevations: South rim:7,000 feet. North rim: 8,100 feet.
The carving of the Grand Canyon by the Colorado River has taken place over the last six million years, exposing rocks at the bottom of the canyon that are close to two billion years old.
The Colorado River within the Grand Canyon National Park: length is 277 miles; average width is 300 feet (although from the rim of the canyon the river looks to be only several feet wide) distance can play tricks on the minds eye. The average depth of the river is 40 feet however the greatest depth is 85 feet. Average gradient is 8 feet/mile. We were told that for most of the year the color of the Colorado River is a brown, however there are times of the year when the river is a brilliant blue/green.
The Colorado River is 1,450 miles long from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California.
Grand Canyon National Park became a national park in 1919. So famous is the landmark to modern Americans that is is surprising that it took more than thirty years for it to become a national park. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the rim in 1903 and exclaimed: " The Grand Canyon fills me with awe.....Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness! You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see."
Despite Roosevelt's enthusiasm and his strong interest in preserving land for public use, the Grand Canyon was not immediately designated as a national park. The first bill to create Grand Canyon National Park was introduced in 1882 and again in 1883 and 1886 by then Senator Benjamin Harrison. As President, Harrison established the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893. Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon Game Preserve by proclamation in 1906 and Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908. Senate bills to establish a national park were introduced and defeated in 1910 and 1911. The Grand Canyon National Park Act was finally signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The National Park Service, established in 1916, assumed administration of the park.
The creation of the park was an early success of the environmental conservation movement. Its National Park status may have helped thwart proposals to dam the Colorado River within its boundaries.
The Grand Canyon, including its extensive system of tributary canyons, is valued for its combination of large size, depth, and exposed layering of colorful rocks dating back to Precambrian times. It was created through the incision of the Colorado River and its tributaries after the Colorado Plateau was uplifted and the Colorado River system developed along its present path.
The photo's of the canyon do not really do justice to the park. One of the world's seven natural wonders!!!!!!
That is all for today,
Candy and Johnny
