Grand Canyon National Park turns 105 Feb 26, 2024

Grand Canyon National Park turns 105

Happy birthday to Grand Canyon National Park! It"s been 105 years since this Arizona landmark was designated a national park by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The origins of this exceptional landscape, carved by the Colorado River, wind, and landslides, date back up to 6 million years. Alongside its steep valleys and colorful rock formations, the canyon holds the stories of Native Americans, European, and American pioneers—the oldest human artifacts found here date back nearly 12,000 years. In addition to tourist adventures such as cruising on the Colorado River, joining the Trail of Time walking tour, or climbing up to the Desert View Watchtower, the park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a registered International Dark Sky Park for crystal-clear stargazing.

© Jeremy Janus/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 26, 2018A leafy seadragon in the waters off Wool Bay, Australia
Feb 26, 2019Snow on the temple
Feb 26, 2020 The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
Feb 26, 2021Lighting the way to new beginnings
Feb 26, 2022Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Feb 26, 2025Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland
Feb 26, 2026Grand Canyon National Park anniversary

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 9, 2018Speed skaters in the Gangneung Oval, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Jan 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Dec 29, 2018When science looks like magic
Mar 28, 2018Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton, Utah
Jan 15, 2025Anniversary of the British Museum
Jun 28, 2020Keep shining
Nov 8, 2018Manatees rebound
Apr 16, 2018The Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique
May 24, 2023Old Fortress, Corfu, Greece
Nov 4, 2019Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
Jan 30, 2020The Pearl of Siberia
Feb 23, 2018Aerial view of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico
Sep 7, 2019Cloudy with a chance of enlightenment
Jun 13, 2019A unique elephant encounter in Nantes
Aug 9, 2024International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Oct 18, 2019Fall color sweeps across the West
Feb 21, 2024Yosemite National Park, California
Jan 19, 2020Ready. Set. Snow.
May 17, 2018Celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day
Apr 5, 2020The frog prince?
Dec 30, 2022White Desert National Park, Egypt
Jun 7, 2019Holey moley–it’s National Doughnut Day!
Oct 26, 2024Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany
Aug 4, 2024Friendship Day
Jul 29, 2022International Tiger Day
Dec 30, 2018Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
Jan 22, 2019Is this Minecraft headquarters?
Jun 21, 2022Summer solstice
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Apr 25, 2022World Penguin Day