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News Release Date: April 20, 2009 Zion National Park is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibit, In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Zion National Park. The exhibit features contemporary paintings of Zion by living artists as well as original sketches of Zion by Thomas Moran. The exhibit will be at the Zion Human History Museum from April 15 through May 26, 2009. Thomas Moran established himself as one of the major landscape painters of his day. More than any other artist, Moran created popular interest in the Great American West by bringing the vast, unfamiliar landscapes to Americans living in the East during the nineteenth century. In July of 1873, Moran visited Zion Canyon while traveling with an expedition led by John Wesley Powell. While at Zion, Moran completed a number of sketches and studies of the landscape. These inspired him to create illustrations and watercolor paintings of Zion throughout his life. In this tradition and to honor the 100th Anniversary of Zion National Park, 21 nationally known artists were invited to paint the landscapes of Zion Canyon in the footsteps of Thomas Moran. The exhibit is the result of a collaborative partnership between Zion National Park, Zion Natural History Association, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Z-Arts!, The Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, Zion Canyon Visitors Bureau, and East Zion Development. The Zion National Park Centennial recognizes the park’s initial establishment as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909. In 1918, the name was changed to Zion National Monument and Congress designated it as Zion National Park in 1919. Local residents and visitors are invited to view this exhibit at the Zion Human History Museum. Museum hours are Sunday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zion National Park entrance fees apply. Future Centennial events will be posted on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/zion. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015