A visit to the Grand Canyon in 1958 including photos

Grand Canyon

This page is part of Henry’s USA Rail Trip.

Saturday September 6th to Tuesday September 9th 1958

When I got to Grand Canyon a dance was held in the evening, and I spent much of that dancing with a young lady from San Francisco, who was holidaying with her parents. Most of The Village of Grand Canyon is owned by the Santa Fe Railway Co. and Fred Harvey interests, that part of the combine that do the catering and hotels. Really they do it very well, because the Canyon is miles from anywhere, 50 miles from the main line at the small town of Williams. Accommodation is graded, a posh hotel, a lodge, and “auto cabins” – little huts for people with cars. These last least expensive – self stayed there.

Yesterday I descended into the Grand Canyon, which is 4,400 feet deep – just as deep in fact as Ben Nevis is high from sea level. The only way in is along a mountain path – fortunately barred, – i.e. too narrow and steep, to all cars. Mules do make the trip, but only about 3/4 of the way down at present, that costs £3, so I hiked down. The Colorado River is the colour of red mud, which is carried down in enormous amounts, thus slowly filling up the lake at the end of the river gorge, where there is a huge dam.

It was most interesting to see the vegetation at Grand Canyon: actually in the Canyon the temperature is about 20° higher than on top, and the climate resembles that in the Mexican Desert. Prickly pear cacti and desert plants grew in abundance. Some more of our garden plants grew on top at the Canyon, Gaillardias, Penstemons, Yuccas and Agaves.

Below are some of the transparencies that Henry took at the Grand Canyon. It looks as though he descended the Canyon from the Southern Rim on the Bright Angel Trail, going through the Indian Gardens (an oasis now known as the Havasupai Gardens). He crossed the Colorado River over the Black Bridge – the only crossing in the Grand Canyon at the time. He visited Phantom Ranch (an oasis and historic lodge at the bottom of the Canyon) and then returned to the Southern Rim, probably by the same route.

I remember Henry telling me that while he was in the Grand Canyon the wires started singing. He moved out of the way sharply and then there was a lightning strike. I also remember him telling me how disappointed he was to discover that cottonwood trees (which he saw in the Grand Canyon) are actually just poplars!

Agave at the Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *Agave at the Grand Canyon.*

The Colorado River (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *The Colorado River.*

The Indian Gardens (now called the Havasupai Gardens), an oasis on the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *The Indian Gardens (now called the Havasupai Gardens).*

View from the Indian Gardens (now called the Havasupai Gardens), Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *View from the Indian Gardens.*

The Colorado River, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *The Colorado River again, from lower down the canyon.*

The bed of the Colorado River, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *The bed of the Colorado River.*

The Black Bridge over the Colorado River (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *The Black Bridge over the Colorado River.*

Mules crossing stream at Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *Mules crossing stream at Phantom Ranch.*

Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe 1958). — *Phantom Ranch.*

Swimming pool at Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *Swimming pool at Phantom Ranch.*

Evening from Southern Rim (photo by Henry Tribe, 1958). — *Evening from Southern Rim.*

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