Go Grand and Experience Your America! Pt. 2

Texas Tech students learn about the different types of Native American artifacts

Finally, our group had the opportunity to tour the park’s museum collection. Curator Colleen Hyde took us behind the scenes to talk about and view some of the 1.7 million artifacts the museum houses related to the cultural and natural history of the park. These artifacts are important pieces to the Grand Canyon story. Under federal law, artifacts must remain where they are found within the park unless that are in danger of being damaged by the elements, human interference, etc. Many of the park’s treasures have been preserved for thousands of years by the dry and arid climate of the Southwest, particularly the caves who unknowingly house these artifacts for thousands of years. As a result, the United States Geological Survey no longer puts caves on maps in order to preserve them and the archeological and anthropological content within them.

Experiencing Your America

This past week at the Grand Canyon was more than a trip to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It was a week in which we learned about the archeological, geographical, cultural, and ecological richness of the canyon and the park. As a result, we were able to help more than 11,000 visitors from around the world enjoy this natural treasure. Enjoying the naturalness of the great outdoors helped me dust off the stress of being a doctoral student while renewing my passion for service-based learning, something that I hope to incorporate into my own work as a future faculty member.