It Happened at Grand Canyon (It Happened In Series) by Berger, Todd R.(January 1, 2007) Paperback

It Happened In...

by Todd R. Berger

From the vanished explorers of the 1869 Powell expedition to the airlifting of 580 feral burros, It Happened at Grand Canyon offers a unique look at intriguing people and episodes from the history of the colossal and colorful gorge carved by the Colorado River.Learn about the disputed first trip through the Grand Canyon—supposedly by James White on a driftwood raft. Find out how an airliner collision over the canyon led to the formation of the FAA. And meet honeymooners Bessie and Glen Hyde, whose disappearance in the canyon has remained a mystery for nearly ninety years.In an easy-to-read style that’s entertaining and informative, author Todd R. Berger recounts some of the Grand Canyon’s most captivating moments.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, American History, Travel

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few months ago when I visited my library's sale shelves, I found this collection of interesting short essays about various events that occurred in the Grand Canyon over the years.

The author begins in 1540 with the first Spaniards to see the canyon and works his way through the years to 2003. The piece for that year talked about the return of the California Condor to the area, one of its native habitats.

In between were fascinating articles about sometimes well-known and sometimes little-known events, like the Kaibab Deer Roundup of 1924 (which inspired witness Zane Grey to write his novel The Deer Stalker). Essays about burros, swimmers, boaters, pilots, trail builders, and an escaped convict are all included.

I enjoyed all of the offerings here, which is unusual in any collection. There is also an extensive biography at the back. I've picked a couple of titles to look for and I have already begun reading The Deer Stalker. The Book Universe in action again!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Grand Canyon is my favorite place on earth and I’ve had the privilege to hike to phantom ranch over 15 times. The stories in this book were like being back there and remembering a good friend. Several of the stories I had heard shortened versions of so getting more details was excellent. Some stories were brand new and I loved them all!!
If you love Grand Canyon, you will adore this book!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great essays about historical events in the Grand Canyon.

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, especially because I was preparing for my first Grand Canyon backpacking trip.

I really like books like this, with short chapters on different related subjects—in this case interesting events (not broad cultural/historical/geological overviews, but specific EVENTS) that took place at Grand Canyon.

A few chapters didn't hold my interest super well, especially the ones that got a little long on the politics or engineering, but other readers will really like those. MOST of the chapters, however, were fascinating. I already knew some of these stories, but even the ones I knew were told interestingly enough to keep my attention well.

The book was well written, with an easy flow and none of the pretentiousness of some similar books.

My only real complaint was that it wasn't long enough. I wanted more, more, more.

I would certainly read more by Todd R. Berger.

More accurate rating: 4.5 stars

[Heather Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is most definitely the kind of book you read if you a) have visited the Grand Canyon or b) are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon. While it is a quick read, and certainly interesting, I would presume that those who are familiar with (or trying to become familiar with) the history and geography of the Grand Canyon would most enjoy this book.

It is a collection of stories of events that occurred at the Grand Canyon told in chronological order. From conquistadors to the introduction of endangered species, the human element of the Grand Canyon is so young compared to the geological history of the canyon itself. The stories serve as a reminder of our fleeting time on earth, yet the way humans can behave in a manner that is detrimental to our beloved planet.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a story of fascinating events that have transpired in or around the Grand Canyon. From planes colliding in mid-air, to a manhunt for an escaped fugitive, to urianium mining. It is a collection of vignettes some more interesting than others. You could tell that the author is an amateur and the writing is a bit clunky but it's a quick read and not hard to get through. The problem with collections like this are that for a story that is truly fascinating, there are likely other better books to read about them. This was more a Cliff Notes collections of the stories though I did learn a lot about this history of the park and region.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A set of brief vignettes of the interesting, historical things that happened at the Grand Canyon throughout history, from the 1540's through 2014. Having recently been there and hiked through the Grand Canyon, this was a pretty interesting view into how the Grand Canyon came to be and how different people impacted the exploration of the area and the creation of the park. My main quibble is that the stories are short and I was often left wanting to know more detail about the outcomes of the situations. Overall, a quick fun read for anyone interested in the Grand Canyon and its history.

[Susan Kasza · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring. Most of these stories are really cool, but the writing is awful. I’ve heard nearly all of them before, some of them while rafting through Grand Canyon, but never with so little detail. Also, how do you write a book about Grand Canyon and not talk about Georgie Clark? Or discuss the many Native American tribes associated with the GC? What about the Hopi salt mines, or the split twig figurines, or Blacktail canyon? Don’t waste your time.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well written, quick read, and provides much information and trivia about the Grand Canyon. Each chapter provides a snippet from history of some of the people and events that have occurred over the years. I've hiked into the Canyon 6 times and this book was a nice backdrop to the memorable experiences that I've had at one of the planet's Seven Natural Wonders.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy, fun stories from the history of the Grand Canyon. As another reviewer said, many left me wanting more details though not enough for a full book on each. Great to read if you've been or are going or are just interested.

[Rebecca Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little collection of stories about the Grand Canyon. A few stories felt a little out of place and didn’t fit the theme of the rest. I do wish there had been a map for easy reference or a few pictures to go with the stories.

[Erin Thedwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of interesting stories

[Guy McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Mike G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is an easy read. In the Intro the author states he tried to write in an entertaining manner and selected incidents 'of interest'. I think he accomplished his goal.

[Donald Yann · Rating 2 out of 5]

An occasional map would be nice. Many descriptions of photos were included but no photos themselves. A pity.

[Ellen Behrens · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love reading about places where we spend time, especially books that give us an "inside look" or a perspective that goes beyond common knowledge. Hard to find with something as written about as the Grand Canyon, but Todd Berger managed to give us some very unique stories about this fabled place. For all the stories of the Kolb brothers, the too-many folks who decide the Canyon should be their last resting place and dive from the rim, Berger manages to give us stories like L. Wing and OK Parker who decided in 1914 to drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. "Their mode of transportation was a Metz roadster: a bucket-seated, twenty-two horsepower demon that looked kind of like a Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang go-kart with bicycle tires," writes Berger. It's a raucous ride, and I won't spoil the ending by revealing whether they made it or not (regardless, the publicity stunt didn't help the Metz car last... I mean, who has ever heard of that car today?)

Berger's selections are excellent, but he too often reveals too early how an adventure ends, which, sadly, takes the edge off the suspense we would otherwise feel. Sometimes it's a little hard to follow the narrative, so a touch of editing would have helped in spots, but overall, the book is a good summary of some of the lesser-known episodes in the Grand Canyon.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good book if you are looking for a historical book referencing the Grand Canyon. I took a recent trip to the grand canyon and read this book on the way. It was an alright book but it can get dull at a lot of parts. Later in the book there were some stories that I was reading where I wanted to read more about it and it ended too short. The book consists of 30 stories dating from 1540-2003.I would recommend this book to anyone looking for stories about people and events which took place in the Grand Canyon.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quick easy read tracing the history of the Grand Canyon with various stories and events that happened there--from the first visits of the Spanish Conquistadors through its use as a sanctuary for the successful regeneration of the California Condor.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun tidbits about various occurrences in and around the Grand Canyon. Nothing deep here, but the stories are fun snapshots of Canyon history.

[Todd Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of stories culled from the history of the Grand Canyon. Anyone mildly familiar with the area will have heard most of them before.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of interesting stories and amusing anecdotes.

[Chris Seals · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book alright, but there are better stories of Grand Canyon.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is always a joy to read. The short, factual stories in this book are engaging and interesting. The book contains several starter topics that one can easily follow up on if wanted.

[Kevin Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, yet light and fun read. Best read if the Grand Canyon is on, or has been on, your itinerary.

[Kate Zdenek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short chapters of events that happened at the Grand Canyon. I found it interesting

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good history of some of the stuff that happened along the Grand Canyon area. I appreciate the researched stories to give me context.

[Junemarie Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, most of the stories I wanted to read more. Not in depth, but enjoyable.

[Libscigrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories were interesting and I learned a ton. A few were stories I had heard before. Most were new to me. Some info was repeated across several stories (especially that the Virgin River meets the Colorado under lake Mead) but in general a fascinating book. Definitely lent itself to rabbit-holing through Google.