“The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.” – John Muir
A grand view of the Grand Canyon from Grandview Point. — Photo by Pat Bean
And What Once Was Is No More
All about the Grand View Hotel. — Photo by Pat Bean
If you had visited the Grand Canyon in 1898 to see if it was as grand as had been reported, you would have seen the landscape as it is pictured above. Oh I’m sure things have shifted a bit since then, but all the major peaks and valleys, rock profiles and water routes are still there.
You would have probably made the 12-hour bone-jarring trip from Flagstaff to see the scenery for yourself in a stagecoach. And you would have probably stayed in Pete Berry’s Grand View Hotel, which he built in 1897 after mining in the canyon didn’t pay off. You might even have ridden one of Pete’s Mules partway down into the canyon itself.
And all about Pete’s Last Chance copper mine. — Photo by Pat Bean
Shortly after the turn of the century, however, you would have probably taken the Santa Fe Railway into Grand Canyon Village and let your breath gasp in wonder at the landscape 11 miles west of this spot.
Just as Route 66, which I had just traveled, bypassed so many other wonderful places, the railroad bypassed the Grandview.
You have to look really hard to find any traces of Pete’s entrepreneur efforts, although the trail he took tourists down still exists and is still used today. But the grand view is still here, and still awesome.
Bean’s Pat: Bird Light Wind http://birdlightwind.com/ Grand view of red-tailed hawks.
*This pat-on-the-back recognition is merely this wandering/wondering old broad’s way of bringing attention to a blog I enjoyed – and thought perhaps my readers might, too. June 6, patbean.wordpress.com
Pat Bean's blog 
Grand, indeed! The history of the Grand Canyon is fascinating. That 12-hour stagecoach ride from Flag would’ve been a serious haul!
I’ve learned that the more I know about the history, especially the odd litte tidbits, of a place, my travels become more meaningful, enjoyable and, as you said about the stage coach ride, fascinating. I tried comparing my comfortable drive in my RV to arrive at the same spot it took tourists 12 rough hours it took people at the turn of the 20th century. Thanks for commenting Eric.
Beautiful Grand Canyon Pat , I’m giving you a Pat on the back from my eyes..
Thanks Martina. The canyon does seem to capture people’s imaginations. And my back loves the pat from your eyes. Thanks.
The colours are amazing – muted and dream-like. Beautiful!
Thanks Edith. It was the wrong time of day for photography. But that was when I was there and so I had to go with it. Some of my photos actually turned out better than I thought they would.
It’s magnificent – and must look more awesome seeing it for real as you have, Pat. It’s history is very interesting too. I’d love to visit there one day but probably never will, so thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Thanks. I, too, enjoy learning about and seeing photos of places I’ll never visit. While not as good as the real thing, admittedly, armchair travel is still fun. And without having to worry about luggage, or in my case flat tires.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon and I have relatives in Phoenix. Great pics! I definitely need to arrange a trip with the kids someday soon.
Hope you blog about it when you do.
I have many visual memories of my trip up from Sedona, through Flagstaff and to the south rim of the Canyon. You are so right-every view was a grand view. I believe I may have stopped in some of the same stops where you did as my pictures are so similar! Thanks for the “grand” reminder!!!
You’re welcome Nancilynn. I think I have similiar pictures I’ve taken over the years, too. But these were the first digital ones. I do love my digital camera.