Craft – Fairy Under Glass

Posted on April 23, 2015 by barbara

A couple of years ago I did a Craft post, Glass Dome Arrangement and at the time the popular trend in home accessories was a terrarium containers. The arrangement was set on a cabinet in our home and I really liked it. Another Craft Post that I did several years ago was a Butterfly in a Jar and that arrangement sit on the desk in my home office during the spring and summer seasons.

For this craft project, it was the end of summer I thought it would be a fun idea to “trap” a fairy under glass to keep throughout the fall and winter months until I could let her “escape” in the springtime!!

The Fairy Under Glass craft project was very easy and took less than an hour to create, I re-purposed most of the items used in the previous arrangements so the cost was keep to a minimum. But, if you are going to create this craft project from scratch the items required are very inexpensive.

Listed below are the supplies and instructions for the Fairy Under Glass craft project.

Fairy Under Glass – supplies

Glass container (the dimensions will be determined by the floral and fairy size)
Fairy figurine
Floral items (I used two different types of ferns and flowers to add color)
Artificial Mushrooms
Moss (optional)

Fairy Under Glass – instructions

Prepare the glass container for the craft project, clean or dust if necessary
Arrange ferns and flowers (for this project I re-purposed the ferns from a previous arrangement and added flowers for a little bit of color)
Place the fairy figurine at the front of the arrangement (I add a little bit of sparkle paint to the fairy’s wings to allow them to glimmer)
Scatter a few mushrooms around the fairy
(Optional) Add a little bit of moss to the arrangement, place some around the fairy and the mushrooms

The House of Faberge

Posted on March 31, 2015 by barbara

The House of Faberge is known for designing the beautiful jeweled Russian Imperial Eggs which were created for the Russian Tsars, Alexander III and Nicholas II, between 1885 and 1917. 54 Imperial Eggs were completed during that time and only 42 are known to have survived with many displayed in museums throughout the world or held in personal collections. (For readers interested in more detailed information about the Faberge Eggs, please click on the link to the previous blog post)

In this post I will discuss the men behind the House of Faberge and the history of the company. In addition to the Imperial Eggs, Faberge created a variety of items ranging from jewelry pieces to decorative boxes and desk sets to cigarette cases and perfume bottles to photograph frames and timepieces to semi-precious stone and floral figurines. I will show some examples of these beautiful pieces. But as most things will come to an end, I will discuss what happened to the House of Faberge and to Peter Carl Faberge and his family in the years after the Russian revolution.

A brief history of the House of Faberge

In the early 17^th century, the Favris family was living in the small village of La Bouteille located in northern France. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV hostilities erupted between the Catholics and the Protestants (also known as Huguenots) and for this reason the Favris family left the country in 1865 because of religious persecution. Over time, as the family progressed east across Europe settling near Berlin, Germany and then in the early 1800s in Pernau in the Baltic province of Livonia, the name of Favris eventually changed to Faberge.

In the 1830s, Gustav Faberge (1814–1893) moved to Saint Petersburg located in Imperial Russia to work as a goldsmith, When his apprenticeship with Andreas Spiegel was completed Gustav had earned the title of Master Goldsmith. In 1842 he opened a small retail jewelry store. Later that year he married Charlotte Jungstedt and they had a son named Peter Carl who was born in 1846. Throughout the following years The House of Faberge proved to be a very prosperous business allowing Gustav to retire in 1860 and the family moved to Dresden located in southern Germany. The Saint Petersburg store in Russia remained open and managed by Peter Hiskias Pendin. After arriving in Dresden, Gustav and Charlotte had a second son named Agathon who was born in 1862.

Meanwhile, Gustav’s oldest son, Peter Carl, had completed his formal education in Dresden and was gaining his business experience by serving his apprenticeship under the guidance of renowned goldsmiths in Germany, France and England. Peter Carl then returned to Saint Petersburg to begin his work at the House of Faberge which had now developed a respected business reputation for quality work and craftsmanship that attracted numerous affluent customers. By 1881, the company had outgrown their small store and moved to a large building on the Bolshaya Morskaya in Saint Petersburg.

House of Faberge - Saint Petersburg circa 1842

In 1882, with the death of his mentor Pendin, Peter Carl took over sole responsibility for the House of Faberge. By this time, his younger brother Agathon had joined him in Saint Petersburg and he was a talented designer who created numerous sketches and wax models so that every jeweled piece would be perfectly crafted with special attention given to every minute detail. At the Pan-Russian Exhibition in Moscow, the brothers caused a sensation with their finely crafted jewelry and decorative items, they received the prestigious gold medal. Tsar Alexander III was so impressed with some of the Faberge pieces displayed at the Exhibition that he granted them the title of Goldsmith by special appointment to the Imperial Crown. Faberge was given full access to impressive Hermitage Museum collection which inspired him to revive the lost art of enameling.

In 1885, Tsar Alexander III commissioned the House of Faberge to create the first of what would become known collectively as the Imperial Eggs. Easter is an important celebration in the Russian Orthodox Church and wealthy members of Russian society had started the custom of giving expensive jeweled eggs. That year the Tsar wanted to give a special gift to his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovna. The first Faberge Egg created, known as the Hen Egg, was crafted of gold with a white enameled shell which opened to reveal a series of delightful surprises. The first was a golden yolk which opened to reveal a golden hen which also opened to display a miniature replica of the Imperial Crown created in diamonds and rubies. (Currently, all that remains is the outer gold and enamel shell with the golden yolk and unfortunately the golden hen and miniature crown have been lost.)

When this first egg proved to be a success with the Empress, the Tsar commissioned Faberge to create additional Imperial Easter Eggs every year with the only requirement being that each would contain a hidden surprise. Faberge was given complete creative freedom and his designs became more elaborate and intricate with each passing year. When Alexander III died in 1894 his son Nicholas II continued the family tradition and presented a Faberge egg to both his wife, Empress Alexandra and his mother, now Dowager Empress Maria, every year until 1916. A total of 54 Imperial Eggs were completed and only 42 are known to have survived with many currently displayed in museums throughout the world or held in personal collections. (For readers interested in more detailed information about the Faberge Eggs, please click on the link to the previous blog post)

The Imperial Eggs may be the best known items made by the House of Faberge but with their fine designs and expert techniques they also created numerous types of decorative art objects for the home as well as continuing with their line of exquisite jewelry pieces. Made in gold or silver, enameled and embellished with precious and semi-precious jewels some of the items created were decorative boxes and desk sets, cigarette cases, perfume bottles, photograph frames and timepieces. Shown below are a few examples of these types of items.

Some of the most popular items created by Faberge were their miniature carvings made from semi-precious stones and embellished with gold or silver and semi-precious stones. Some of these hardstone carvings included animal figures such as elephants and pigs. Other items included flower sculptures which featured intricate carved semi-precious stone flowers set in small vases with clear rock crystal or quartz used to simulate the water in the vase. Shown below are a few examples of these types of items.

Faberge hardstone elephant with original box

Faberge - lilies of the valley in a vase

Business was so successful that the House of Faberge opened additional stores in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and London. With over 500 craftsmen and designers in their employment, Faberge produced between 150,000 to 200,000 objects between 1882 and 1917. Faberge’s work was put on display to represent Imperial Russia at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. The House of Faberge did not compete in the event but it still received a gold medal in recognition of their superior work. Peter Carl Faberge was given the most prestigious French award of a knight of the Legion of Honor.

In 1917, in the midst of World War I, Imperial Russia was in a state of crisis due to poor working conditions, high inflation, social unrest and severe poverty. On March 15, 1917 Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate and he and his family were placed under house arrest. By the fall of 1917, the Russian provisional government was overthrown by the Bolsheviks and by the spring of 1918 civil war had broken out across the country. On July 17, 1918, the Tsar and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, Russia. This tragedy brought about the end of more than three centuries of the Russian Imperial rule by the Romanov dynasty.

During this turbulent time, Peter Carl Faberge and his family fled to various parts of Europe, two of his sons were imprisoned in Russia. The new government eventually seized control of the House of Feberge and the stores were ransacked and their contents disappeared. The contents of the Russian Imperial palaces were confiscated by the Bolsheviks. Large amounts of Imperial gold, silver and jewels were inventoried, packed in crates and taken to the Kremlin Armory in Moscow by order of Vladimir Lenin. Most of the Faberge Imperial Eggs went to the Moscow, some had disappeared during the uncontrolled looting of the palaces and the Dowager Empress was able to escape with one Faberge egg, the Order of St. George Egg.

By 1927, Joseph Stalin had come to power in Russia and the vast Imperial treasures were rediscovered in the storage rooms of the Kremlin. Desperately in need of financing to support his new communist regime Stalin ordered that the Imperial Crown Jewels be appraised and then sold. In a strange twist of fate, Peter Carl Faberge’s son, Agathon, who was currently being held in a Russian prison, was released to evaluate the value of the individual pieces of the Imperial treasures held at the Kremlin Armory. Between 1930 and 1933, fourteen of the Faberge Imperial Eggs were sold and sent to Paris and London.

Ten of the Faberge Eggs were bought by Armand Hammer, an American entrepreneur, a socialist sympathizer and a personal friend of Lenin. He recognized that the treasures of the Romanov dynasty needed to be preserved and he purchased thousands of items including Russian jewels and artwork. His intent was to sell them in the United States but at the time the country was in the midst of the Depression and at first there was very little interest in purchasing such expensive items. Some of the Faberge Eggs were sold at auction for only four or five hundred dollars. Finally after several years the quality of these magnificent pieces of art was fully recognized and the price dramatically increased and the Faberge Eggs are now valued in the millions of dollars. Throughout the years many wealthy Americans and Europeans have acquired the Faberge Eggs, some of those collectors have included Marjorie Merriweather Post and Malcolm Forbes. Currently of the 54 Imperial Eggs made by Faberge, only ten remain in the Kremlin. The remaining ones are displayed in museums throughout the world or held in private collections and eight of the Imperial Eggs are still missing.

The personal life of Carl Faberge and his family

Peter Carl Faberge married Augusta Jacobs in 1872 and they had four sons: Eugene, Agathon, Alexander and Nicolas.

After the Bolsheviks revolution in 1917, with the help of the British Embassy, Peter Carl Faberge escaped from Russia traveling by train to Germany. He was later joined by his wife, Augusta and their oldest son, Eugene who had also escaped from Russia. While in Germany, Peter Carl finally received confirmation that the Tsar and his family had been brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks. Peter Carl was devastated at the loss of his personal friend, with the additional loss of several other members of the Imperial Family and the confiscation of the House of Faberge by the new government, Peter Carl realized he would never return to his beloved Russia. His family was very concerned when he became gravely ill and he traveled with his son Eugene to receive medical treatment in Lausanne Switzerland, his wife remained in Germany. Sadly, Peter Carl died in 1920 and followed by his wife Augusta in 1925. Several years later, in 1929, Eugene took his father’s ashes from Lausanne and had them buried in his mother’s grave at the Grand Jas Cemetery in Cannes, France.

Eugene (1874–1960) the oldest son eventually moved to France in 1924 and opened Faberge et Cie in Paris with his brother Alexander. The new store had only a modest success making and selling jewelry items in the familiar Faberge style. To distinguish their pieces from those made in Russia before the Revolution, they used the trademark Faberge, Paris whereas the original Russian company’s trademark was just Faberge. As a lucrative sideline, the store also repaired and restored the original items made by the House of Faberge that were fortunate to have survived the former Imperial Russia. Eugene died in Paris, France in 1960. (There are no records of any marriage or children)

Agathon (1876–1951) the second son was imprisoned by the Bolsheviks and after the revolution, under orders from the new government, he was released in 1921 to work on appraising and cataloging the Imperial Royal Crown Jewels collection while under constant supervision and surveillance. Eventually, Agathon with his first wife Maria (Borzova) and their son Oleg were able to escape from Russia in 1928. He eventually settled in Finland, studied philately and lived a relatively quiet life. Agathon remarried and his second wife, Lydia (Trueber) had five sons named Agathon, Peter, Fedor, Igor and Rurik. Agathon Faberge died in Helsinki, Finland in 1951.

Alexander (1877–1952) the third son was also imprisoned but only briefly because he managed to escape from prison after bribing the guards. He eventually moved to France in 1924 and opened Faberge et Cie in Paris with his brother, Eugene. He married his first wife Nina (Belicheva) and had a daughter named Irina. He married his second wife and they had a son also named Alexander. Alexander Faberge died in Paris, France in 1952. (The Faberge et Cie continued in business until 2001)

Nicolas (1884–1939) the fourth son went to England in 1906 to work at the House of Faberge location in London and he was still there in 1917 at the time of the Russian revolution. Afterwards, he chose to remain in England and not join his family in Europe. He married Marion Tattershall and they had no children. Later, Nicolas became a photographer and he had a relationship with Doris Cladish whom he had previously met when they worked together at the Bond Street branch of Fabergé. Doris and Nicolas Fabergé had a son Theo in 1922. Nicolas died in Paris France in 1969.

Doris Day’s Birthday

Posted on March 29, 2015 by barbara

Doris Day … she was one of the “it” girls of the 1950s and 1960s. She was an entertainment triple threat meaning that she could sing, dance and act. Doris started her career as a singer with a big band in the early 1940s, later she went to Hollywood where she made many romantic comedies in which she also sang and danced. Doris also received critical acclaim in several dramatic films. When her movie career was coming to an end, she starred in a television series in the late 1960s. Currently, Doris is enjoying her retirement in Northern California and she is an earnest animal activist.

Doris Day was born Doris Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922 (possibly 1923) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her mother and father were Frederick Kappelhof, a music teacher, and Alma Welz who both came from German immigrant parents. Doris had two older brothers named Richard, (who died before she was born) and Paul. Her parents eventually separated and this did not stop Doris from pursuing her interest in dance but unfortunately a car accident in 1937 caused her legs to be seriously injured and ended her dreams as a professional dancer.

While recovering from her injuries, Doris spent her many idle hours at home listening to the big band music on the radio and she soon discovered she had a talent for singing. Her mother quickly hired a music teacher, remember her parents were separated at this time, and after eight months of lessons Doris took her first professional job as a vocalist on a local radio program. Shortly after her first radio performance, Doris was invited to audition as a singer for Barney Rapp’s small band. He suggested that she change her professional name to the easier sounding Doris Day. Eventually, Doris went onto work for several famous bandleaders such Bob Crosby and Les Brown. It was while Doris was with the Les Brown Band that she recorded a hit song with the group called “Sentimental Journey” which was released in 1945. Her professional singing career was taking off and she quickly recorded six more Top Ten hits before she left the Les Brown Band in 1946, at the time she was the highest paid female band vocalist.

Touring almost continuously and also performing on Bob Hope’s weekly radio program with the Les Brown Band gave her maximum exposure that allowed Doris the opportunity to showcase her singing talent which ultimately lead to her first starring role in a motion picture. The story goes that while she was in Hollywood, her agent arranged for her to attend a party at the home of composer Jule Styne. As was sometimes customary at Hollywood parties, Doris was invited to sing and her rendition of “Embraceable You” impressed not only Styne but also his partner Sammy Cahn and they recommended her for a role in a Warner Brothers film called “Romance on the High Seas. Over the next few years she had roles in several musical films, such as “On Moonlight Bay” and its sequel “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”. In 1953, Doris starred in the film musical, “Calamity Jane” which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Secret Love”. In 1954, under the advice of her third husband Martin Melcher, Doris did not renew her film contract with Warner Brothers.

Doris Day - By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Now under the management of Melcher, Doris took on some more challenging parts in her movies. Her first dramatic role was in the 1955 movie, “Love Me or Leave Me, in which she co-starred with James Cagney and many people in the industry were surprised when she did not receive an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of singer Ruth Etting. Next she went on to work for Alfred Hitchcock in the 1956 film, “The Man Who Knew Too Much” with James Stewart. One of the songs from the movie, “Que Sera, Sera” (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

In 1959, Doris’ career once again changed directions and she left the darker dramatic roles and took on parts in lighter romantic comedies. The 1959 movie, “Pillow Talk” had her co-starring with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall; she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress but did not win. Later Doris went on to film two more movies with Hudson and Randall, the 1961 “Lover Come Back” and the 1964 “Send Me No Flowers”. In 1960, she took on her last dramatic role in the 1960 mystery-thriller film, “Midnight Lace” co-starring with Rex Harrison. Then, she returned to the popular romantic comedy roles with the 1962 film “That Touch of Mink” co-starring with Cary Grant and two movies with James Garner that were both released in 1963, “The Thrill of It All” and “Move Over, Darling”.

By the end of the 1960s the romantic comedy genre was not as popular with movie audiences. The 1966 film, “The Glass Bottom Boat” proved to be a box office failure. Then in 1967, Doris turned down a part of Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate” movie because she felt the script’s sexual situations were offensive. She made a few more films and in 1968 her final movie role in “With Six You Get Eggroll” was released. Doris had made 39 films during her movie career and she was one of the world’s biggest movie stars.

During the time Doris was making movies in Hollywood she also continued recording music. From the period of 1945 to 1967, Doris was one of the nation’s most popular and accomplished singers. Starting in 1945, with the Les Brown Band, Doris had several songs in the Top Ten including “Sentimental Journey”. “Secret Love” from the movie “Calamity Jane” was her first big solo record that hit number one on the charts in 1953 and “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) in 1956 hit number 2.

With the end of her film career virtually coming to a close in the late 1960s, Doris branched out into television. The story goes that after her manager and third husband, Martin Melcher, died suddenly in 1968 and she found out that he and his business partner Jerome Rosenthal had embezzled almost all of Doris’ earnings leaving her on the verge of bankruptcy. Melcher had also committed her to doing a television series and Doris was unhappy about the thought because at the time it would have been considered a backward step down for a popular movie star. Unfortunately she was contractually obligated to precede with the television series, it ran on CBS from September 1968 until March 1973 for five seasons and 128 episodes. Meanwhile, Doris filed a lawsuit against Rosenthal and eventually won settlement of $20 million dollars, the largest civil judgement case in the state of California at the time, but she later settled the case for about $6 million.

Doris received several awards in the years that followed; she received the Cecil B. DeMile Award for Lifetime Achievement Film in 1989. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her achievement not only in the entertainment industry but also for her work as an animal activist but she did not attend the ceremony due to her fear of flying. In 2008, she was offered a special tribute from the American Film Institute and also a Kennedy Center Honors tribute but she declined both. She received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards for her three of her most popular records; in 1998 for “Sentimental Journey”, in 1999 for “Secret Love” and recently in 2012 for “Que Sera, Sera”. In 2008, she received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement in Music but once again she did not attend the ceremony.

After leaving Los Angeles, Doris retired from show business to live in the beautiful city of Carmel, California. She always had an interest in animals and now she reignited her commitment to animal welfare by co-founding the organization, Actors and Others for Animals in 1971. A few years later, Doris started her non-profit organization, the Doris Day Animal Foundation which later partnered with the Humane Society of the United States. Doris lives quietly in Carmel, she owns the Cypress Inn in town, and she enjoys her life with her adopted stray animals.

In regards to Doris Day’s personal life, she published her autobiography, “Doris Day: Her Own Story” co-written with A.E. Hotchner in 1975. In the book, she wrote about her early childhood in Ohio, touring with the Big Bands and later making movies in Hollywood. She also wrote about her three marriages, she later married for a fourth time.

Her first husband, Al Jorden, was a trombonist and they were married from 1941 to 1943. They had one child, a boy named Terrence or better known as “Terry” in 1942. The short marriage was a volatile one and Jorden was said to have been physically abusive, they divorced and Jorden later committed suicide in 1967.

Her second husband, George Weidler, was a saxophonist and they were married from 1946 to 1949. He is responsible for introducing her to Christian Science.

Her third husband was Martin Melcher, who went on to manage Doris’ career and produce several of her movies, and they were married from 1951 until his death in 1968. During that time Melcher adopted Doris’ son, Terry. Terry went on to be a successful musician and record producer but sadly he died in 2004 from melanoma.

Her fourth husband was Barry Comden, a businessman and restaurateur, and they were married from 1976 to 1981, Comden later died in 2009.

Decor – Tea Table Displays

Posted on March 26, 2015 by barbara

Several years ago on a trip to Asheville, NC I purchased a lovely antique tea table which is now placed in the corner of our formal dining room. Our dining room was already furnished with a beautiful dining table with 8 chairs and matching china cabinet. Also in the room was a tall cherry wood cabinet where I store silverware and table linens. I had been searching for a long time to find a piece of furniture to complete the room’s furnishings and the addition of the antique tea table was the perfect piece.

So what does a person place on a tea table? A china tea set of course!

The china tea set that I placed on the tea table was purchased several years ago when I worked in a small retail store that sold home decorative items and various collectibles. The white china tea pot has pretty pink roses and ivy, on the front are printed the words “And the greatest of these is Love”. The two teacups and saucers also feature pink roses and ivy, trimmed in gold. The words, “Love, Faith and Hope” are printed on the front of each teacup. I search and was able to find gold teaspoons that I placed on the saucers to match the gold trim. The saying on the teapot has a very special meaning to my husband and me because at our wedding we had the 1 Corinthians 13:13 verse read during the ceremony.

Hanging above the tea table are two framed items that will continue the story of our wedding and complete the decorations in this area of our dining room. The first is a framed print of the Marty Bell painting “Sweetheart’s Gate”. I love the vivid colors of print and if you look closely there are hidden hearts which Marty Bell painted into many of her paintings. Below that framed print is another framed item; it is the custom label from the wine served at our wedding. Before we got married my husband and I took a wonderful trip to the Napa Valley and toured several of the wineries. Knowing that we would be married in a few months we order several bottles of wine from a small winery in the area and had custom labels made with our names and the wedding date. I had a few extra labels and I decided to mat and frame one of the labels to create a unique wedding keepsake. (Décor Tip: When decorating an area of the home, think about displaying related items that tell a special story, this is what I did in the corner of our dining room)

As most of the readers to my blog know, I love to decorate for the different seasons throughout the year. In this post, I will show how I have decorated the tea table with various seasonal items.

Spring/Easter –

Shown below is a photo of the seasonal decorations I used for Easter. I keep the china tea set on the tea table and then placed a special holiday decoration. The used a white feather tree and placed it in a cute cracked egg white vase that I found in my local craft store. Then I decorated the feather tree with sparkle egg ornaments in pastel colors and for a little bit of whimsy I also added a few small white bunny wearing pastel colored tutus. For another touch of merriment I place a small stuffed duck into one of the teacups.

Fall/Thanksgiving –

Shown below are two different seasonal decorations for fall. The first photo shows a lovely floral arrangement of golden roses and greenery placed in a crystal vase, this arrangement usually sits on the dining room table. To add an extra festive touch, I added several peasant feathers to the arrangement. The second photo shows a unique decoration that I made especially for the year that we hosted Thanksgiving dinner for several family members and since the holiday season is a time of celebration and remembrance I wanted to create a special “Memory Tree”. I used a small tabletop artificial pine tree which I decorated with family photo frame ornaments, golden feathers and bronze jingle bells. (For complete instructions on creating a “Memory Tree” for your home, please click on the link)

Christmas –

Shown below is the special Christmas decoration that I made. Inspired by the cranberry topiary that I had seen in the Red Room on the HGTV White Christmas special a few years ago I decided to create one for the tea table in our dining room. It was very easy to make and I used two different Styrofoam pieces, artificial pine, pinecones and artificial cranberries. When I completed the decoration, I placed is on a silver pedestal to add height. (For complete instructions on creating a Cranberry Topiary for your home, please click on the link).

Several years ago on one of our antique shopping adventures I came across old sheet music of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”. I thought that it would look wonderful framed to match the other two framed sheet music that hang on the wall on either side of the china cabinet. So, for the Christmas season I remove and store the framed Marty Bell print and the framed wedding label that usually hang above the tea table. Also to match the other two framed sheet music, I add artificial pine boughs and pine cones placed above the frame.

2012 Christmas Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer sheet music

Travel – Grand Canyon National Park

Posted on March 24, 2015 by barbara

National Parks in the United States make wonderful destinations for family vacations and in this post I will discuss one of the most popular ones … the Grand Canyon National Park located in Arizona. I’m sure this has been said a thousand times, but a photograph does not capture the beauty of the Grand Canyon, it is truly is a wonder to see for the first time and to stand at the edge looking down into the vast canyons. So, I will start with a brief history of the park dating back to when the area was first established by the Native Americans, how it was discovered later by European settlers and how it was eventually made into a National Park. I will discuss how the canyon was formed and also give suggestions of things to see and do on a visit to the park.

A brief history of the Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park is located in the northwest corner of Arizona. The canyon is 277 miles long, measures up to 18 miles at its widest point and reaches the depth of over a mile. The Grand Canyon was created hundreds of millions of years ago but geologists continue to debate about the exact process and timing of its formation. In fact, it was created by a combination of extreme weather conditions, seismic events, volcanic activity and water erosion. As the earth was being formed, this area underwent vast changes in weather conditions creating inland seas, swamps and then deserts. With each different climate condition, rocks and minerals formed layers of sediment deposited one on top of another. The next step in the process happened approximately 60 million years ago when the tectonic plates were sifting in the area that eventually became the North American continent. This seismic activity, similar to how the nearby Rocking Mountain range was created, caused upward rock and soil movement which formed the Colorado and Kaibab plateaus and as a result the Colorado River formed. Each subsequent seismic activity caused an increase in the uplift of plateaus allowing the river to flow faster. The movement of the Colorado River caused a process known as water erosion which started to carve the canyons approximately 2 million years ago. This period in the history of the Earth was known as the Ice Age when massive amounts of snow accumulated in the region. Then, as the snow melted with the change in earth’s temperature, the water of the Colorado River started to cause fissures in earth’s surface by carrying away rock and soil creating deeper and deeper canyons. Finally, one million years ago volcanic activity in the region created a final layer of rock from ash and lava. Today, these layers of rock which were created over millions of years ago tell the story of the geologic history of how the earth was formed. Nearly 40 different layers wonderfully preserved within the exposed walls of the Grand Canyon have been identified. (Travel Note: As visitors look out over the canyons from the rim and scenic overlooks or when venturing further into the canyons on hikes or mule trips, please take the time to look at the various layers of rock and appreciate what nature has created!)

Currently this part of the United States is known as the “Four Corners” area and it is where the four states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico borders all come together. Thousands of years ago a group of Native Americans, known as the Anasazi, lived in the area. The Anasazi are considered the ancient ancestors of the modern Pueblo Native Americans who considered the Grand Canyon a holy site that they named Ongtupqa.

The first Europeans to visit the area were a group of Spanish conquistadors, soldiers and explorers, led by Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas under the orders of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1540. The conquistadors and their Hopi Native American guides were in search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola. Their records indicate that they came to the South Rim of Grand Canyon, somewhere between the current area known as Desert View and Moran Point, noting that the canyon were deep and walls were high. 200 years passed before two Spanish priests, Father Francisco Dominguez and Father Silvestre de Escalante, accompanied by Spanish soldiers came to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon looking for a way into California in 1776. The route that was established became known as the “Crossing of the Fathers” and was located in Glen Canyon (currently the route lies under the waters of Lake Powell)

Almost a hundred years later, John Wesley Powell led the first expedition down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon in 1869. Starting at Green River in Wyoming, Powell and nine men gathered in four boats and traveled down the Green River to the Colorado River navigating the uncharted river for future travel. The Powell group completed the 350 miles trip in three months experiencing difficult navigation and many hardships along the way. (Travel Note: Today, visitors can travel down the Grand Canyon on a variety of organized raft trips that explore several different parts along the Colorado River, trips are available in various lengths of time ranging from one day to several days)

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon on a trip through the area; he was a great sportsman and conservationist. In 1906 Roosevelt established the Grand Canyon Game Preserve which eventually led to the elimination of natural predators such as eagles, mountain lions and wolves. Later, adjacent land was added to the preserve and it became designated as a National Monument in 1908. Then, unfortunately land and mining interests blocked the area from being incorporated into the United States National Park system for the next 11 years. Finally, on February 26, 1919 the Grand Canyon officially became the 17^th National Park as signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

Throughout the following years, the Grand Canyon National Park has experiences many changes and overcome many management problems. In 1963 the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam permanently altered the Colorado River and as a result the Grand Canyon ecosystem experienced many changes. Other problems impacting the Grand Canyon included disputes with various Native American tribal reservations adjacent to the park concerning water rights, increased air pollution levels caused by surrounding metropolitan areas and increased tourist air traffic created higher noise levels.

One remarkable achievement in recent years has been the reintroduction of the California condor into the Grand Canyon Nation Park. At one point in time the California condor ranged from Canada to Mexico and across the United States from the west coast to the east coast. Gradually with the settlement of North America it decreased their range to only the area along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California. The population of condors dramatically dwindled at an alarming rate due to increased hunting and cyanide poisoning from predator traps, power line collisions and lead poisoning caused by the condors ingesting fragment of lead ammunition in carcasses. In 1967 the California condor was put on the federal endangered species list but by 1982 the total condor population was down to only 22 birds and the species was close to extinction. Then in 1983, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a captive breeding programing partnering with the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Sadly, by 1985 the condor population had declined to only nine birds in the wild. In 1987, a controversial decision was made to capture all the remaining condors and included them into the captive breeding program. Eventually, the condor numbers dramatically increased to 177 birds and in 1992 the decision was made to release 127 condors into the Los Padres National Forest located north of Los Angeles and later in 1996 six condors were released into the Vermilion Cliff area 30 miles north of the Grand Canyon. Today, the total population of California condors is over 400 with half that number being from birds in the wild, currently there are five active condor nesting areas located within the Grand Canyon National Park and the Vermilion Cliff area.

Things to see and do at the Grand Canyon National Park

South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon Village is located near Mather Point which is the place where most park visitors get their first look of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Visitor Center located in the village is a great first stop for visitors to find park information regarding current climate and road conditions, get park maps and view exhibits pertaining to the park’s geology and animal inhabitations. The visitor center also shows a 20 minute orientation film, “Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder”, in the visitor center theater.

Most visitors travel to the Grand Canyon National Park by car but once they arrive at the park certain areas are restricted to private transportation and visitors are encouraged to take the park’s free shuttle buses to see the major points of interest. Some visitors that decide to stay outside the park boundaries will stay in Williams, AZ and then take the Grand Canyon Railway train into the park which arrives and departs from the train depot conveniently located in the Grand Canyon Village. (Travel Note: For more information about the Grand Canyon Railway and hotel accommodations in Williams, please click on the link to www.thetrain.com)

The Grand Canyon Village is also where visitor accommodations ranging from inexpensive campgrounds or moderate to expensive hotels are located in the South Rim area. The most luxurious lodging on the South Rim is the El Tovar Hotel built in 1905 and designed by Charles Frederick Whittlesley in a style that has become known as “National Park Rustic”, there is also a restaurant and gift shop located inside the hotel. A moderate price hotel also located in the Grand Canyon Village is the Bright Angel Lodge which was built in 1935. The original hotel was built by the famous Fred Harvey Company and designed by Mary Colter, an unusual feature is the fireplace which is layered with stones placed in the same sequence as those found in the Grand Canyon. (Travel Note: Be sure to make advance reservations if you are planning to stay overnight in the park)

A short walk away from the hotels and perched on the canyon rim is the Kolb Studio which was built in 1904 by Ellsworth and Emery Kolb. The Kolb Brothers guided visitors down the Bright Angel Trail taking photographs which the visitors could purchase of them standing in front the magnificent views of the Grand Canyon. In 1911, the Kolb Brother filmed their journey down the Green and Colorado Rivers which brought national attention and increased tourism to the area. The former studio building was recently restored and features a Kolb photography exhibit and an art gallery.

Located about 27 miles from the Grand Canyon Village is an area known as Desert View which offers even more spectacular views of the Grand Canyon and from this vantage point the Colorado River can be seen down at the bottom of the canyon. Adjacent to the parking lot is one of Mary Colter’s best known buildings called the Desert View Watchtower which was built in 1932. The structure was designed to resemble the ancient Anasazi watchtowers and the building stands 70 feet tall and is considered one of the highest points on the South Rim.

Located just over 3 miles from the Desert View Watchtower are the Tusayan Ruins and Museum which helps visitors understand how the Pueblo Native Americans lived in the Grand Canyon over 800 years ago. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the ruins or check the park guide for when NPS rangers offer more detailed guided tours. The Tusayan Museum is open daily with free admission and features exhibits which display twig figurines, pottery and other items of the Pueblo Native Americans.

These are just some of the things to see on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, for more information and other suggestions, please see the click on the Grand Canyon National Park website link, www.nps.gov/grca

North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is opened from May to October every year and closed during the winter months; it is usually less crowded than the popular South Rim. The distance from the bottom of the South Rim to the North Rim is a 21 mile hike. Travel time by car from the South Rim to the North Rim will take about five hours; it is 220 mile drive if you are visiting both areas of the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon Lodge is located at Bright Angel Point and it is one of the overnight accommodations within the North Rim Area of the park. Built in 1927, the Grand Canyon Lodge was designed by Gilbert Underwood and the main building is located near the edge of the canyon rim and features a restaurant and gift shop and there are also 23 deluxe cabins and 91 standard cabins. The Lodge was constructed from local limestone which blends beautifully with the rock formations of the canyon. For more rustic accommodations, there is also a campground within this area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. (Travel Note: Be sure to make advance reservations if you are planning to stay overnight in the park)

A short walk from the Grand Canyon Lodge is the North Rim Visitor Center which is a great place for visitors to find park information regarding current climate and road conditions, get park maps or brochures and view exhibits; there is also a small bookstore.

Grand Canyon National Park activities

Travel Advisory: The weather at the Grand Canyon can be very hot, so please be prepared with plenty of bottled drinking water if you are planning any outdoor activities!

Most visitors that go to the Grand Canyon National Park drive to the vista points or walk a short distance along the rim to enjoy the views of the canyon or perhaps to catch a glimpse of the Colorado River far below. Some visitors come prepared for hikes into the canyon down the Bright Angel Trail that take all day or maybe longer hikes with an overnight at Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the canyon on the banks of the Colorado River. (Travel Note: Please be check at the park visitor center to see if a backcountry hiking permit is required for the trail that you will be hiking on. Also, be aware that advance reservations are need for the Phantom Ranch if you are planning on staying overnight)

Listed below are a few more activities available in Grand Canyon National Park –

Mule Rides are an exciting way to see the Grand Canyon and are a very popular park activity that book up very quickly. The South Rim Mule Ride guests will be picked up by a bus in the Grand Canyon Village and taken to the mule barn located near the South Kaibab Trailhead. After a brief orientation, guides will accompany the riders and mules on a four mile round trip down into the canyon and out to the Abyss Overlook, the ride will take approximately two hours. There are also overnight trips available, the mule ride will follow the same trail out to the overlook point but then proceed further into the canyon to the Phantom Ranch. There is also a North Rim Mule Ride for guests staying in that area of the park. Visitors can reserve either a one hour ride along the rim of the canyon or the longer half day trip that takes visitors to either Uncle Jim’s Point or into the canyon down the North Kaibab Trail. (Travel Note: When planning a trip to the park, make reservations as soon as possible, visitors can book up to 13 months in advance. Also please be advised that there are physical limitations and age restrictions for the mule rides)

Colorado River Trips

Colorado River trips are another exciting way for visitors to see the Grand Canyon. Unlike the view from the rim looking down into the canyon, a river trip allows visitors to see the canyon looking up from the Colorado River. A search on the internet will give numerous companies offering river trips ranging from smooth water raft trips for the family to the more adventurous whitewater raft trips. The raft trips available can range in length from easy one day trips to more strenuous multi-day trips which require overnight camping or a stay at the Phantom Ranch. (Travel Note: This blog makes no recommendations for Colorado River trips but we do advise visitors to thoroughly research the river raft companies before making any reservations. For private trips, permits are required so please check the requirements and availability when planning a Colorado River trip)

Airline / Helicopter Tours

An airline or helicopter tours offer visitors another perspective for viewing the Grand Canyon. High above the canyons, visitors can see for miles and the views are spectacular. Much like the Colorado River trips, a search on the internet will give numerous companies offering helicopter tours available from 30 minutes to several hours in length and taking off from airports near the Grand Canyon to as far away as Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. (Travel Note: This blog makes no recommendations for helicopter tours but we do advise visitors to thoroughly research the companies before making any reservations)

The Enchanted Manor

a lifestyle blog by Barbara Jones

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