January 11, 2023 – Grand Canyon

On this day in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument. It would officially become a national park 11 years later in 1919. The Grand Canyon and surrounding areas have been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. It wasn’t until 1540 that the first Europeans saw and explored the canyon. President Theodore Roosevelt first visited the canyon in 1903. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, he first established the Grand Canyon Game Preserve in 1906. Today, the canyon attracts around 5 million visitors a year. Learn more here.