2012 Grand Canyon History Symposium
Following the success of the popular symposiums held in 2002 and 2007, the Grand Canyon Historical Society presented the third Grand Canyon History Symposium in January 2012. The three-day event brought together a gathering of professional and avocational historians who will spoke about historical topics specific to Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding region. The goals of the symposium were to increase the knowledge and understanding of the history pertaining to the Grand Canyon and adjacent areas, and to promote communication and sharing among canyon historians, writers and enthusiasts.
Presentations were at the Shrine of the Ages and at the Community Building. Participation was limited to the first 200 registrants and it sold out in 6 weeks.
Friday January 27 First Morning session
Friday January 27 Second Morning session
Friday January 27 First Afternoon session
Friday January 27 Second Afternoon session
Friday January 27 Third Afternoon session
Saturday January 28 First Morning Session
- Pioneer Trails “to” Grand Canyon by Dick Brown
- The MONTE VIDEO Inscription – Why It's Likely From the Bass Tourist Era by Jonathan Upchurch
- Thoughts on the Origin and Age of the Mysterious "MONTEVIDEO" Inscription and the Route the 16th Century Spanish Explorers May Have Used to Descend into Grand Canyon by Ray Kenny
- The MONTE VIDEO Debate between Upchurch and Kenny
Saturday January 28 Second Morning Session
Saturday January 28 First Afternoon Session
Saturday January 28 Second Afternoon Session
Saturday January 28 Third Afternoon Session
- Picking Up the Pieces: Park Service Management of the Grand Canyon Disaster Crash Sites, 1956-2006 by Benjamin Carver
- The 1956 Grand Canyon Aviation Accident: Impacts on the Local Community and Recent Site Management by Ian Hough
- Falling Into the Canyon: The 1944 Airmen’s Surprise Visit to the Grand Canyon by Roy Webb
- Glen Canyon Dam - Construction 1963 & Reconstruction 1983 by Gary Ladd
Sunday January 29 First Morning Session
Sunday January 29 Second Morning Session
- Natural Quiet Resource Mismanagement (overflights noise) at Grand Canyon National Park: The Reagan Torpedo, 1986-87 by Dickson Hingson
- The View from the Top: How Stephen Mather and the National Park Service Took Over Management of the Grand Canyon by Cathryn Dippo
- Vignettes of America at the Grand Canyon by Thomas Patin
Other Activities
Author Table
An Author Table was located in a corner of the Yavapai Café. Symposium presenters who have authored books were available on Friday and Saturday noon (12:00 to 1:00) and Friday and Saturday evening (6:00 to 7:00). Grand Canyon Association sold books authored by many of the presenters on Friday (8:30 to 5:30) and Saturday (8:00 to noon) in the Shrine of Ages, Room A. The Symposium Committee requested that symposium authors be available at the Author Table during one or more of the above time periods.
Additional Activities
In addition to a free train ride from Williams, for those who want to leave their vehicle in Williams, the 2012 symposium included field trips, dinner-time presentations and a historic movie.
Field Trips
THE TRAIL OF TIME
Led by geologist and author Wayne Ranney, from Yavapai Point to Verkamp’s Store on the path that chronicles the geologic features of the Canyon.
HISTORIC KOLB STUDIO AND RESIDENCE TOUR
Mike Buchheit, Director of Grand Canyon Field Institute, guides attendees on a tour of historic Kolb’s studio and private residence.
GRAND CANYON CEMETERY
Tour of the cemetery led by John Azar (2011 GCHS Pioneer Award recipient).
HISTORIC BOAT TOUR
Brad Dimock walks you through a tour of the park’s historic boat collection.
Symposium Sponsorship & Committees
The Grand Canyon Historical Society, in partnership with Grand Canyon Association, Xanterra South Rim, Xanterra Grand Canyon Railway, Grand Canyon National Park and Northern Arizona University Cline Library Special Collections, produced the 2012 Grand Canyon History Symposium.
Steering Committee
Erik Berg, GCHS; Helen Ranney, GCA; Jon Streit, Xanterra; Judy Hellmich-Bryan, GCNPS; and Richard Quartaroli, NAU
Planning Committee
Lee Albertson, Mike Anderson, John Azar, Erik Berg, Diane Cassidy, Renee Cisneros, Keith Green, Nancy Green, Karen Greig, Kirstin Heins, Tom Martin, Mona McCroskey, Diane Murdock, Tom Myers, Richard Quartaroli, Helen Ranney, Al Richmond, Carole Voss, Traci Wyrick and Judy Hellmich-Bryan.
Presenters Selection Committee
Mike Anderson, Erik Berg (Chairman), Nancy Green, Tom Martin, Mona McCroskey, and Richard Quartaroli (and Diane Cassidy, Technical Support).
Speakers Committee
Lee Albertson (Chairman), Mike Anderson, Erik Berg, Nancy Green, Tom Martin, Mona McCroskey, Richard Quartaroli and Carole Voss.
Promotion Committee
Erik Berg, Diane Cassidy, Karen Greig, Amy Horn, Tom Martin, and Helen Ranney.
Finance Committee
Keith Green and Carole Voss.
Program Committee
Chairman Erik Berg, Diane Cassidy, Karen Greig, Amy Horn, Tom Martin, Richard Quartaroli and Helen Ranney.
Publication Committee
Nancy Green, Tom Martin, Mona McCroskey, and Carole Voss.