How the Canyon Became Grand: A Short History

Exploring more than 400 years of human contact with the Grand Canyon, Stephen J. Pryne chronicles the creation of one of America's greatest icons. The Canyon was discovered in 1540 by Spanish explorers, but dismissed as worthless and immediately forgotten; three centuries passed before it came to be recognized by Westerners for the natural wonder that it is. Merging environmental, social, intellectual, and political history, Pyne takes us on a wondrous journey of discovery. He recounts the achievements of explorers, geologists, artists, and writers from John Wesley Powell to Wallace Stegner, who transformed the Canyon from a natural phenomenon into a symbol of America. 

softcover, 199 pages

ISBN: 0-14-028056-1

measures 5" x 8"