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By Bob Valen 

There was almost a Grand Coulee National Park

Weather Waatcher

 

Last updated 8/12/2020 at 1:23pm



Grand Coulee creates an image in our minds - the Grand Coulee Dam or the City of Grand Coulee, maybe the general area around the dam. Of course, the Grand Coulee, as well. However, where is Grand Coulee National Park?

Well, the story of what could have been a national park goes back some 108 years to1912. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the American Geographical Society of New York, an organized excursion was planned and implemented — The Transcontinental Excursion of 1912. Geologists and geographers from the United States and several other nations boarded a train and off they went on a two-month, round-trip journey across the United States starting and ending in New York City.

This group of respected geographers and geologists, many who represented the geographical societies or universities of their county, were to witness the true physical grandeur of our nation for the first time. For them, it was an introduction a large portion of North America, including the Grand Coulee of Washington state.

The idea of an excursion came from the mind of Willian Morris Davis. Davis was trained At Harvard University in geography, geology, geomorphology and metrology. He is considered to be the father of American geography. In 1910, he shared the idea of a cross country excursion and sent letters of interest to a number of people who studied such things. He did not hear anything serious for over a year.

Then in 1911, things changed. A wealthy member of the American Geographical Society contacted him. Here’s how their conversation went: “What’s the good of it? I replied that, while the excursion could not be expected to lead to any commercial results, it would certainly increase the knowledge of American geography by Europeans and it will promote the acquaintance of European geographers with Americans. Will you manage it?” Asked the possible patron. “yes.” Then, said he, “I will give you – one thousand dollars and no more.”

Davis now had some momentum to develop a full schedule for the excursion.

What makes this excursion interesting to those of us who live here in the Coulee is the fact that these scientists made a stop here, in the Grand Coulee of Washington. They did not stay long, though the trip made the newspapers — like the Coulee City Dispatch weekly newspaper. Here’s a quote from that newspaper that I found genuinely interesting. “The visitors were unanimous in the verdict that the day spent here, was unqualifiedly the most interesting and enjoyable of their trip, not excepting the wonderful sights witnessed during their visit to Yellowstone National Park, where the sights, though wonderful, became monotonous, while here such a varied program of wonders greeted their eyes that there was scarcely a dull moment during the entire day.”

The Grand Coulee made an impression: “Varied wonders greeted their eyes.” Likely, some wrote about this region and the wonders found here. As time passed, a dam was to be built at the north end of the Grand Coulee. Small towns sprung up, communities formed. Many were impacted by the change too.

As the Grand Coulee Dam neared completion, a study had been finalized by National Park Service’s Region 4 in San Francisco. A seven-page document was written addressing the many, varied and significant attributes of the Grand Coulee and region. The document closes with this statement under Conclusions and Recommendations – “The Grand Coulee is a geologic feature that in many ways unique, but the artificial structures and operations of a great irrigation project, including two great lakes, or reservoirs, center about the Grand Coulee Dam; and therefore this region is not considered suitable for the purpose of a national park.” It was signed by J. Volney Lewis, Regional Geologist, dated January 5, 1938.

The recommendation was final, no national park. Though, today, the Grand Coulee is listed with the National Park Service’s program, National Natural Landmarks. Over 60,000 acres of the Grand Coulee were designated as a National Natural Landmark in May of 1965.

 

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