Grand Canyon, AZ- Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Conservancy invite the public and park partners to join National Park Service staff in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon’s designation as a national park. To celebrate this significant milestone, Grand Canyon National Park will waive entrance fees for visitors coming to the park on February 26.

The Grand Canyon was designated as a national park on February 26, 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson after 35 years of dedicated efforts to protect this impressive landscape. The 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park is an occasion to celebrate the park’s incredible impact on Arizona’s citizens and economy, global reputation, and to inspire future generations to experience the park and protect its beauty, natural resources and cultural significance.

Commemoration activities will start at 10:00 a.m. with cultural demonstrators and family activities at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim. Flagstaff's Sechrist and Knoles Elementary school choirs will present two concerts in honor of the Grand Canyon at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to participate in the commemoration ceremony at 1:00 p.m featuring remarks from Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Conservancy leadership, and a commendation reading and plaque reveal by Arizona Secretary of State, Katie Hobbs. After the ceremony, Grand Canyon School’s 4th Grade Class will lead a Happy Birthday sing along.

In the evening, visitors are welcomed to join Sunny Dooley for a program on Diné winter stories at  7:00 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Theater.    

Visitors are encouraged to join the fun online by following Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Conservancy on Facebook and Instagram for special contests and activities.

These commemorations kick off a yearlong celebration with events at Grand Canyon and throughout Arizona.  All centennial activities are a joint effort between Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Conservancy to engage with the next generation of park stewards. For a full list of centennial events please visit, https://go.nps.gov/2019_events.

Whether you are a regular visitor, a national park traveler or virtual explorer, Grand Canyon National Park hopes that you are inspired to experience and connect with a park that has inspired 100 years of stewardship and will continue to delight visitors and stewards for another 100 years! Come, be inspired, and Go Grand.

The fee-free designation does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours or use of concessions. Interagency Senior and Annual Passes are available for purchase at the park's Headquarters, open from  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond February 26 will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay. The next fee-free day will be April 20 for National Park Week.