Grand Canyon National Park Celebrating its Centennial

Holding a master's in natural resource management from the University of Miami and a juris doctor from the University of Alabama, Edgar "Ed" Gentle is an experienced attorney who has administered more than $2.5 billion in settlements. A frequent visitor to Arizona, Ed Gentle enjoys visiting the Grand Canyon National Park. 

One of the most renowned national parks in the United States, the Grand Canyon National Park is celebrating its centennial this year. The park was officially created and signed into legislation on February 26, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson, and is hosting virtual tours and special events such as historical symposiums and a living history week throughout the year in honor of its 100th year as a national park. 

Those who visit the park in 2019 can expect to learn about its history as well as its geology and natural resources. Some of the lesser-known facts regarding the park include that it was the training site for Apollo 11 astronauts and also the site of a commercial airline crash that led to the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration. The Grand Canyon National Park hit one million annual visitors in 1956 and now welcomes more than six million tourists per year. It's also home to seven National Historic Landmarks.

100 Years of Grand Highlights History of Grand Canyon National Park

Experienced attorney Edgar (Ed) Gentle serves as a special master and settlement administrator on behalf of the Alabama courts. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Ed Gentle enjoys visiting Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona multiple times per year. 

Although scientists estimate that the Grand Canyon was carved out over roughly six million years and inhabited by humans as early as the last Ice Age, the mile-deep gorge in northern Arizona wasn't named a national park until February 1919. With the 100-year anniversary of that milestone approaching, the Grand Canyon National Park has partnered with Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University to present "100 Years of Grand," which seeks to enhance public understanding of the history of the natural wonder. 

As part of the project, thousands of archival materials such as photographs and documents dating back to 1890 have been made available on a trio of online repositories hosted at lib.asu.edu/Grand100. Documents include a 1925 map of the park, a 1916 press release detailing the bill to confirm the Grand Canyon as a national park, and a 1933 public invitation to the blessing of the Hopi Watchtower.