DESERET NEWS,Sept. 16, 1920: The dedication of Zion National Park Sept. 15 was a success exceeding the most ardent expectations, according to General Passenger Agent D.S. Spencer of the Oregon Short Line, who returned (to Salt Lake City) today. Mr. Spencer says 800 people attended the dedication held at the Wylie Camp in Zion Canyon Wednesday. He says nothing like it was ever before witnessed in that part of the state . . .
(For the festivities the night before) The state furnished cots and mattresses in sufficiency, but through some oversight, there were no blankets. However, enough were secured for the women visitors, while the men utilized their overcoats . . .Prof. R. R. Lyman opened the dedicatory program at 10:30 with prayer and S. T. Mather, superintendent of national parks . . . presided. Mr. Mather's address was a fine effort, the speaker dwelling on the purposes of national parks in general and Zion National Park in particular . . .
Sept. 18, 1928: Suprise Sprung in Creating Park. (Announcement of the upgrade of Bryce Canyon, shown above, from a national monument to a national park) was not on the program, but came as a fitting surprise and climax. No doubt Stephen T. Mather, director of national parks, and others, had an idea that it might happen, but it was kept on the quiet until all the goverenment and legal formaltieies were out of the way, ready for the actual ceremony . . . E.T.Scoyen, superintendent of Zion, was appointed to superintend Bryce until a more complete organization can be effected.
National and state officials were in Arizona attending opening formalities for Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon when the suprise announcement of the Bryce Canyon upgrade was announced. Utah's destiny as a tourist destination was solidified by the addition of Zion and Bryce to the national register of parks during the 20s.