Explore the history of Zion National Park, its dazzling landscapes that have inspired artists through the decades, and the current stewardship to balancing visitor impact with conservation in Call of the Canyon: Zion National Park. The new documentary from PBS Utah Producer Joe Prokop premieres Thursday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. on PBS Utah.
www.pbsutah.org/callofthecanyon
Woven throughout the story of Zion National Park are glimpses of artists and their works inspired by the area – from Paiute Indian Tribe artisans to 19th and early 20th century photographers and painters, including Thomas Moran, Frederick Dellenbaugh, and Maynard Dixon. The park comes alive through artists’ journeys with modern-day painter Kate Starling and Roland Lee, folk musician Hal Cannon, and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell. Viewers experience firsthand how Zion National Park sparks a uniquely human creative response.
Producer, Joe Prokop said, “There have been deliberations about what’s best for Zion National Park for years. However, the time we spend now, thinking strategically about the future is important. It’s a chance to get it right for the future. The connections to the land among the people who advocate for it, who create art because of it, and who cherish the chance to visit it are truly remarkable.”
At the heart of the documentary is the breathtaking cinematography of soaring rock formations through the expansive canyon, forged by the Virgin River. Dramatic footage of this colorful landscape captures spectacular images of Observation Point, the Sun Dial, and the Altar of Sacrifice. Desert Bighorn sheep wander among juniper-studded cliffs, and wild turkey and mule deer graze the forested plateaus.
Zion’s history of human settlement dates back nearly 8,000 years, when Archaic groups inhabited the area. Next came the Ancestral Puebloans followed by the Southern Paiutes. In the early 1860s, pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled the surrounding areas. Isaac Behunin, one of the early settlers, is credited with giving the canyon its current name: Zion, meaning a place of survival and sanctuary.
“The power of Zion is found not only in its immensity, but in its details. The rushing waters of the Virgin River, the fluttering leaves on the Cottonwoods in the morning wind, and the calls of the nearly 300 species of birds that live within the canyon walls. It’s something I call the Zion embrace, and if you pause to listen, it is unavoidably powerful. We thank PBS Utah for telling the story of Zion, Utah’s first national park through the voices of so many that cherish this national treasure,” said Jeff Bradybaugh, Superintendent, Zion National Park.
As the park enters its second century with more than four million visitors a year, Call of the Canyon focuses on the challenges that lie ahead. From issues surrounding congestion and lack of resources to questions over how to build a more inclusive future for the park, the guiding mandate of the National Park Service remains: “To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”
The documentary is produced in collaboration with the Zion Forever Project, a non-profit partner of the National Park. Zion Forever Project works with the National Park Service to ensure the Zion experience as a cherished natural and cultural resource lasts forever.
Billie Rayford, Board President of the Zion Forever Project said, “With decades of experience as an educator and school administrator, I have seen first-hand the transformative power Zion can have on young minds. Zion belongs to everyone, and everyone should be so fortunate to experience the park. As Zion Forever Project board members, we are working to make that a reality. I am honored to lend my voice to this special from PBS Utah as we endeavor to share Zion with everyone.”
About PBS Utah: PBS Utah is Utah’s PBS station, providing the state with access to exceptional content that entertains, informs, and enriches viewers. PBS Utah airs PBS programming plus award-winning, locally produced documentaries and series. Recognized as one of the leading public television stations in the country, PBS Utah is committed to serving and engaging with the Utah community through its diverse productions, as well as its educational and outreach programs. PBS Utah is always evolving to provide Utahns with relevant programming and services while maintaining its core values of integrity, fairness, independence, education, and innovation. PBS Utah also provides three additional broadcast channels: WORLD, PBS KIDS 24/7, and Create. PBS Utah broadcasts from The University of Utah.
About Zion Forever Project: The Zion Forever Project is the non-profit partner of Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Pipe Spring National Monument. For more than 90 years, the Zion Forever Project has worked side by side with the National Park Service to ensure the integrity of the Zion experience. Providing funding and support for the highest priority park projects, the Zion Forever Project works to unite stakeholders across the public and private spectrum, assuring a collaborative approach in caring for these cherished natural and cultural resources. The Zion Forever Project is focused on ensuring that the next generation of public land leaders have access to the tools and resources needed to conserve these sacred landscapes. To learn more about our mission and work visit zionpark.org.
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