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Show 70 for its architecture and arts. The national parks gave the United States "a semblance of antiquity through landscape," in compc1i1ion with historically-rooted Europe. 190 The lead of The New York Times article announcing the new park affinned Runte's thesis: "When Uncle Sam can reach down into his bag of yet unknown wonders and pull forth a brand new national park, the magrtificcncc of which fails of proper description, it constitutes a rather big coup in the campaign between America and Europe for the tourist travel of the world."191 The article continued: The designation of Zion National Park "is expected to be a large factor in proving that for every European attraction America can go one better. It showed that against every move in the organized campaign for American dollars instituted by European tourist interests Uncle Sam can produce fresh ammunition from an inexhaustible supply of new marvels."192 While the country was employing the national park idea to bolster its national identity against European arts and architecture, Utah journalists presented Zion in its quest for acceptance and legitimacy as a state. Local papers compared the "scenic wonders" of Zion to the attractions of Europe, but stressed even more the comparison to other national parks. 193 It seemed that the state looked at the park as validation for its membership in the Union - which had been granted only in 1896 - and as evidence of its worth. Just as the national park idea was envisioned as "an American contribution to 190 Runte, National Parks: The American l:,):perience , -11 191 Powe ll, ··New National Park," New York Time.t, December 21, 1919. 192 Ibid. 191 Some examples of the local press comparing Zion to oth(..'f national parks include: Salt Lake Tribune, '"Fight for Wonderland," November 23, 1919: Safi Lake Tribune, "Zion Is Lauded in Park Report," December 12, 1919, 4; Salt lake Trib11ne, ··wonders to Be Described," November 24, 19 l 9 . |
