Near Grand Canyon Village in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Stephen Tyng Mather

— July 4, 1867 — Jan. 22, 1930 —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2015

1. Stephen Tyng Mather Marker

Inscription. He laid the foundation of the National Park Service, defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Stephen Tyng Mather series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 22, 1930.

Location. 36° 3.689′ N, 112° 6.484′ W. Marker is near Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, in Coconino County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Entrance Road and Yavapai Lodge Road. Marker is located along the Rim Trail, at Mather Point, about 2/10 mile east of South Entrance Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Canyon AZ 86023, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); How's the View? (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Mighty Colorado? (approx. 0.6 miles away); Verkamp's Curios (approx. 1.6 miles away); Horace M. Albright

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(approx. 1.6 miles away); Hopi House (approx. 1.6 miles away); Grand Canyon Depot (approx. 1.6 miles away); Santa Fe Depot (approx. 1.6 miles away).

Regarding Stephen Tyng Mather. An identical marker was installed at the North Rim Back Country Office in 1995.

Also see . . .
1. Stephen Tyng Mather. He was the founding director of the National Park Service in 1916. Prior to his involvement with NPS, he was an influential industrialist who had become personally wealthy from his involvement with Twenty Mule Team Borax. Mather was a dedicated conservationist, a member of the Sierra Club, and friend and admirer of John Muir; and an avid mountain climber. On a trip through Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks in 1914 he was shocked by the conditions he found. Mather wrote Secretary Franklin Lane a highly critical report on the mismanagement of the national parks. He and Lane were friends from their student days at the University of California. Quite succinctly Lane responded, "Dear Steve: If you don't like the way the national parks are run, why don't you come on down to Washington and run them yourself." (Submitted on March 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Mather Plaques History.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, April 3, 2011

2. Stephen Tyng Mather Marker

— “When it comes to Mather Plaques, they are spread out from Alaska to the Virgin Islands, Maine to Hawaii. They cover the gamut of National Parks, Monuments, a Sea Shore, Parkways, Memorials, a Preserve, a Battlefield, Recreation Areas, Historical Parks, Historic Sites, three administrative offices, a couple of State Parks, a city park, and two schools. They are in 16 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. They are in 11 World Heritage Sites.” (Submitted on April 14, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Photographed By Adam Margolis, April 3, 2011

3. Stephen Tyng Mather Marker

Mather Point - Grand Canyon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2015

4. Mather Point - Grand Canyon

Looking east from the marker.

Grand Canyon Sunset image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2015

5. Grand Canyon Sunset

Looking north from Mather Point.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on January 12, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4, 5. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.