For five days in July of 1961, then-Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, Canyonland-legend Kent Frost, and a posse of government folks toured the Caynyonlands area by jeep, boat and helicopter. The huge tour was Udall’s idea, which probably explains why National Geographic was invited on the trip. Udall’s efforts paid off with Utah Democratic Senator Frank Moss proposing Canyonlands National Park (learn more here). The bill was signed on September 12, 1964. What an amazing trip that must have been.
The National Geographic published the story in the May 1962 issue under the title, Cities of Stone in Utah’s Canyonland. The magazine only published one jeep photo, but they did include a map with tiny jeeps showing the route taken.
View all the May 1962 National Geographics on ebay
I was living at Canyonlands when the group from National Geographic Magazine came for a visit. There was a Mr. Grosvenor with them. I drove in from grocery shopping in Moab and the National Geographic crew carried in my groceries for me, including Mr. Grosvenor. At least that’s what I recall. I’m writing a story about that incident for my family tree and would like to know his first name.
Katy Brown, formerly Wyatt
Hi Katy,
It was probably Melville Bell Grosvenor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geographic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melville_Bell_Grosvenor
I hope that helps,
– Dave