Monday, April 8, 2013

G is for the Grand Canyon. The Santa Fe Railroad and The Golden Age of Travel Posters.

Sam H. Harris (1889-1977)   Back East Excursions, c .1924
"Do yuh hear that whistle down the line?
I figure that it's engine number forty nine,
She's the only one that'll sound that way.
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.
See the ol' smoke risin' 'round the bend,
I reckon that she knows she's gonna meet a friend,
Folks around these parts get the time o' day
From the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe."

 Find
This is the chorus from the song, "The Atchison, Topeka, and the Sante Fe," writtten by Johnny Mercer.  It was also in the movie, "The Harvey Girls" sung by Judy Garland.  I've added a You Tube reference for you to check out.  Judy, in this version is fabulous, performing more of a swing rendition than the film did.  

 The Grand Canyon was one of the destinations advertised by the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe Railroad, and is part of railroad history and development of the Grand Canyon into a major US tourist destination.

 The railroad was chartered in 1859, but the track to the Grand Canyon was not completed until 1901 -- the $3.95 fare was a bargain from Flagstaff, compared to the $15.00 stage coach ride.

 Considered a progressive move at the time, Mary Jane Colter, an woman architect, was hired to design many of the now iconic buildings, Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Desert View, Watch Tower, and Hermit's Rest. Bright Angel Lodge, has a fireplace she designed with the rocks that she selected, place to show the same order of the geological strata of the Grand Canyon, from top to bottom.

 Railroad service stopped in 1968 when people chose to take "road trips" instead.  Remember, "Route 66"?  But rail service was reopened in 1989, with the restoration of railroad tracks and the old train depots.  The train reduces automobile traffic to the South Rim.  One engine actually runs on waste vegetable oil.

 The Grand Canyon is a national treasure with amazing vistas and many things to see no matter what your passion or interest may be, hiking, architecture, railroad history, geology, rafting, and for those not afraid of heights, mule rides down to the bottom of the canyon floor.

 Remember, you can click on the poster for a closer view.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-glZdgwgfgQ

and Dover Press attribution





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17 comments:

  1. Lynn ProctorApril 8, 2013 at 6:36 AM

    fascinating and love the poster!

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  2. RAHApril 8, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    judy garland was an enigma! absolutely love her!

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  3. loverofwordsApril 8, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    What a talent, but so sad underneath her bravado. You have to cut and paste the link, but she is at her best in this one.

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  4. DanaApril 8, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    The poster is wonderful! Judy Garland was great, too. Going to listen now. :)

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  5. Timothy S. BrannanApril 8, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    We were just at the Grand Canyon. Loved it.

    --
    Tim Brannan
    The Other Side and The Witch
    Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
    The Freedom of Nonbelief

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  6. loverofwordsApril 8, 2013 at 1:32 PM

    Hi Timothy, it must have been cold there, but it is marvelous in any season. I tried walking down the mule trail and after a few hundred yards, I knew I could never go down there on my own, so sad to hate heights. But. . .there are other wonderful things to do.

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  7. BotanistApril 8, 2013 at 8:32 PM

    I love railroads. Must get down to the Grand Canyon some day. But I was immediately drawn to your banner picture - an Alaskan cruise would be on my bucket list if I bothered with such things :)

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    1. loverofwordsApril 8, 2013 at 9:05 PM

      Alaska surprised me and the two weeks we were there, the sun never came out, but it was still magical, especially the Inside Passage.

      Delete
  8. Amy JareckiApril 8, 2013 at 8:57 PM

    I live half way between the Grand Canyon and Zion Canyon, and can see the lesser known Snow Canyon from my backyard. Beautiful country!

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    1. loverofwordsApril 8, 2013 at 9:07 PM

      I will check it out -- have not heard of Snow Canyon. Does it live up to its name?

      Delete
  9. Hilary Melton-ButcherApril 8, 2013 at 11:51 PM

    Hi LofWs .. love the header too - and the poster ... they were very creative with their travel posters in the late 1800s, early years of the 1900s ...

    I can 'hear' the song being sung - and I'm going to listen to the clip in a minute .. it is definitely an area I'd love to visit one day ...

    Cheers to your Grand Canyon ... Hilary

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    Replies
    1. loverofwordsApril 9, 2013 at 5:54 AM

      Thanks Hilary. We don't have castles and art and an older man-made history, but we do have some amazing natural wonders here in the United States.

      Delete
  10. Empty Nest InsiderApril 9, 2013 at 12:00 AM

    Wonderful poster! I visited the Grand Canyon when I was a little girl, and would love to go back again with our sons one day. I remember that song, and the talented Judy Garland singing it.

    Julie

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    1. loverofwordsApril 9, 2013 at 5:55 AM

      Thanks Julie, I think your boys would enjoy it especially.

      Delete
  11. katie eggemanApril 9, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    Route 66 is just a few blocks from my house in our little town of Carterville lovingly referred to as Podunk in my blog.
    Katie atBankerchick Scratchings

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  12. loverofwordsApril 9, 2013 at 7:32 PM

    Do you remember the show "Route 66"? Hard to believe that it was how many years ago?

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