

Kolb Studio (left) is part of Grand Canyon National Park’s Historic District: South Rim. Photographers, Ellsworth L. Kolb and Emery C. Kolb played an important role in the early development of visitor services to the Grand Canyon. Ellsworth and Emery came to the Canyon in 1902. Ellsworth worked as a bellman in the Bright Angel Hotel. The brothers eventually bought a photographic studio in Williams, Arizona and brought the equipment to the Grand Canyon.
Their business started out photographing parties going down the Bright Angel Trail. Because water supplies were limited on the rim of the Canyon, they would photograph the mule passengers then run 4 1/2 miles to Indian Garden where they had set up a photographic lab. Water was available here for processing the film. Then they returned to the rim of the Canyon with the processed pictures ready for the mule passengers on their return. Kolb Studio was constructed on this site from 1904 through 1926. It was a 2 1/2 story structure with the upper level on the rim of the Canyon. This building saw 23 years of expansion and alterations that brought it to its present day appearance. Grand Canyon National Park, 2011 | NPS Photo by Michael Quinn, St. George News
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Earth Science Week promotes understanding and appreciation of the earth sciences and their relevance to our daily lives and will be celebrated Sunday through Saturday at various venues in Grand Canyon National Park.
National Fossil Day, part of the science week, fosters a greater appreciation of the scientific and educational value of fossils and promotes public stewardship of fossil sites. A natural laboratory and classroom, the Grand Canyon is an ideal place to celebrate Earth Science Week.
The park’s commemoration of Earth Science Week will include a variety of special programs:
- “Geology Glimpse” ranger talks at Yavapai Geology Museum every day at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Daily ranger-led “Fossil Discovery Walk” at 9:30 a.m. at the Bright Angel Trailhead
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7:30-9:45 a.m., staff from Grand Canyon National Park’s Branch of Physical Science will give presentations on their summer’s research
- For National Fossil Day, Wednesday, Oct. 14, the park’s paleontologist, Robyn Henderek, will present “Prehistoric Paleontologists: Split Twig Figurines and Fossil Remains in Grand Canyon Caves” at 7:30 p.m. at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium
- Saturday, Oct. 17, geologist and author Wayne Ranney will present “Sublime Abyss: Grand Canyon’s Awesome Geology” at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Learn more about Earth Science Week at their website. More about National Fossil Day can be found online. For more information about ESW at Grand Canyon National Park, contact Park Ranger Pete Peterson at 928-638-7765.
Event details
- What: Earth Science Week
- When: Sunday-Saturday, Oct. 11-17
- Where: Various locations
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