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Interactive Historical Program

Through the Canyon: A 1911 River Expedition with the Kolb Brothers

Step into the world of early Grand Canyon exploration in this interactive historical program inspired by the legendary Kolb brothers’ 1911 Colorado River expedition. Using historic photographs, maps, artifact cards, and real expedition dilemmas, participants will collaboratively navigate the challenges of documenting the canyon in the early 20th century. 

Kolb Studio Sunset
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Guided by Artist in Residence alumna Amy Monaghan, participants will make decisions about what to pack, how to respond to river hazards, and what risks are worth taking to capture and share the canyon with the outside world. Along the way, Amy will weave together Kolb history, river-running stories, and insights into the challenges of early expedition photography.  

Perfect for anyone interested in Grand Canyon history, adventure and exploration, storytelling, or the human drive to document wild places. 

Program includes a tour of the Kolb Residence led by Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Field Institute. 

Amy headshot

Amy Monaghan

Artist in Residence, 2024

Amy Monaghan is a writer and visual artist. While in residence, she worked on a novel and collage project about historic Grand Canyon photographers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb. During her time at Grand Canyon she offered writing and art workshops for the public, including an evening of storytelling beneath the stars and a hands-on lesson in making your own photographic collage of the canyon. She is a graduate of the MFA Screenwriting program at UCLA, and also holds a BFA in Fine Art Photography from RIT. Amy currently teaches composition and rhetoric at the University of Arkansas.

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