Capitol Reef National Park
AA-2026-F7398A
On the image
The landscape rolls by, a blur of red rock and scrub brush, as seen from the passenger seat of an automobile during a 1970s road trip across the American West. The guardrail confirms someone considered this vista important enough to build a road next to it, but perhaps not so important that travellers should actually stop and get out.
These geological formations have been doing this for millions of years, eroding slowly, largely indifferent to the temporary nature of petrol-powered transportation. The scattered green trees represent nature's persistent effort to add contrast, a struggle often overlooked by holidaymakers intent on making good time to the next motel.
It is the kind of geological grandeur that inspires awe, or at least a brief moment of quiet before someone asks if we're there yet. This entire scene was likely catalogued by the camera owner as 'pretty rocks,' filed alongside hundreds of other holiday snaps, each one a testament to the efficient consumption of scenery.
The historian's note
This photograph captures a panoramic view of the rugged desert landscape within Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, likely taken from the Scenic Drive or State Route 24. The park is renowned for its geological features, most notably the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth's crust that exposes layers of rock from various geological periods.
The distinctive rock formations visible, including buttes and mesas, are characteristic of the Navajo Sandstone and Wingate Sandstone formations prevalent in the park. Road trips to national parks across the American Southwest became a popular form of tourism in the mid-20th century, with the 1970s marking a continued era of accessibility and increased visitation.
These images document the experience of travel and the public's engagement with natural landscapes during this period, offering a glimpse into both the enduring geology and the changing culture of American tourism.
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Capitol Reef National Park Vista from Scenic Drive, Utah, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-F7398A. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/capitol-reef-national-park-vista-from-scenic-drive-utah-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026F7398A,
title = {Capitol Reef National Park Vista from Scenic Drive, Utah, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-F7398A},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/capitol-reef-national-park-vista-from-scenic-drive-utah-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Capitol Reef National Park Vista from Scenic Drive, Utah, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-F7398A UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/capitol-reef-national-park-vista-from-scenic-drive-utah-1970s ER -
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