Guest Editorial: Happy 100th Birthday Grand Canyon

By Scottsdale Pinetop

Breathtaking. Stunning. Ginormous. Unfathomable. These are just some of the words many have used to describe one of the seven natural wonders of the world. And as of Tuesday, the Grand Canyon reached 100 years as a designated national park, a major milestone for both the park and the state.

The Grand Canyon is a reminder of two political parties coming together to preserve something unique and precious for generations to come. Starting with a vision from Republican President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, the Grand Canyon was later made official by Democratic President Woodrow Wilson on February 26, 1919.

On Tuesday, local and state politicians, park employees, students and tourists from around the world came to pay their respects to the crown jewel of Arizona. Today, more people visit the Grand Canyon than any other national park in the West with over 6 million tourists every year. Many Arizonans have fond memories of the Grand Canyon from peering over the jagged cliffs, navigating down the river rapids, hiking or biking down the trails or camping at the bottom staring up at the stars.

The Grand Canyon embodies the best of the American West. We look forward to another 100 great years at the Grand Canyon National Park. And maybe, just maybe, it can be an inspiration to Republicans and Democrats to come together once again.