100 Years Ago: April 1916

[George Thomas Wilson]

This is my 16th short review of a National Geographic Magazine as it becomes 100 years old.

There is only one article in this issue: The Land of the Best, A Tribute to the Scenic Grandeur and Unsurpassed Natural Resources of Our Own Country.  It was written by Gilbert H. Grosvenor, the editor of the magazine.  It is basically a travel brochure for exploring the United States written at a time when travel abroad was near impossible due to the Great War in Europe.

Even though the article is 104 pages long, it is surprisingly short:  with "Thirty-two Pages in Four Colors" and black and white photos on most of the other pages.

The article starts by discussing the pre-war tourism of Europe and then begins to make favorable comparisons of the sites to be explored in our own back yard.  While it does address some man-made sights to see, it mainly deals with the natural beauty of this country, especially lands set aside by the States and the Federal government.  New York is particularly commended for its work in conservation.

The author weaves his way across the country, stopping here and there to take in the vistas. Niagara Falls is the "Thunder of Water", the Mississippi is "The Most Important River in the World".  As we get further west, the National Parks are highlighted, one by one: Yellowstone and its geysers; Glacier National Park; the parks of Colorado: Rocky Mountain, Estes, and Mesa Verde; Mt. Rainier; and finally Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in California and their Giant Redwoods.

To reinforce the majesty of the great trees there is a 10 1/4 by 25 1/2 inch Panorama of the General Sherman Tree found in Sequoia National Park.  Here it is courtesy of Philip Riviere:

And here is the back cover advertisement for Gruen Watches, "The graduation gift that endures".

My youngest daughter graduated from college this year (2016) and her sister gave her a watch as a graduation present, an Apple Watch.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Tom Wilson

[George Thomas Wilson]

Note: I just added a caption to the back cover ad image in this review.