Grand Canyon has drawn men and women to its lofty rims and deep recesses for centuries. Several cultures trace their very origins to this iconic landscape. Others were lured by the promise of fast fortune and adventure. The ancestral Puebloan peoples, ancestors of the present-day Hopi, were very much the former. The 19th-century miners and entrepreneurs toiled over the same terrain, to different ends. Both left their mark throughout what’s now the developed South Rim, and beyond. This class is designed to examine the cultural significance of the Grand Canyon through the prism of these forebears, in particular the wave of hoteliers, architects, artists, and politicians that made their mark on Grand Canyon since it gained popularity as a tourist destination in the late 1800s. To lay a foundation for this topic, participants will learn about the canyon’s two-billion-year-old geologic history and the many diverse ecosystems sustained by its often harsh terrain. This natural history overview will begin to explain why these waves of hardy souls chose Grand Canyon as home. To complete the story, participants will embark on as series of hikes along and below the breathtaking South Rim, as well as insider visits to historic structures and the park’s museum collection.