Grand Canyon Women: Lives Shaped by Landscape

by Betty Leavengood

In Grand Canyon Women , author Betty Leavengood tells the humorous and heartbreaking stories of the heroines of the Grand Canyon - women who broke ground as architects, scientists, hikers, wranglers, waitresses, Native Americans, and park rangers. From housewives in tidy rural homes to pioneering river guides, each woman is remarkable in her own way. And each has had a life journey shaped by the Canyon's awesome landscape.
Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Womens, Nature, Womens Studies

242 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories inspire me to reach for loftier goals as a woman. The story of Elzada Clover and Louis Jotter who were trained botanists and yet did all the cooking on a 1938 river exploration expedition on the Colorado because men didn't cook back then, was just one example of what women have faced in history.

These stories draw my heart to the Grand Canyon.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read a book by a woman about adventures that women take-- and this checked all the boxes.

This book is about the lives of 19 women- the author and the adventures of the 18 wild women inside its pages. Drawn to the Grand Canyon by magnetic pull, for work, for marriage and everything in between. There's not a single story in here that wasn't inspiring in some way. I am absolutely floored by some of the adventures and misadventures I read about. About the work and grit that these women faced to make their dreams (and deaths) come to fruition.

The book is in chronological order starting at year 1867 up until 1956.

My three favorite chapters were:
A Canyon Trailblazer: Gale Burak a self proclaimed nudist who ended up working at a kitchen (clothes obvi) in Supai. The kitchen job lasted longer than she expected and it was very bare bones.

Woman of the River: Georgie White Clark
an inextinguishable flame that swam the lower Canyon in just a life preserver. And then decided to do it multiple times over.

Saddle Up! Lady Mule Wranglers of the Grand Canyon which is self explanatory but nonetheless extraordinary.

This books is a slam dunk 5/5 stars. Absolutely recommend reading it.
And then when you're done go out and have yourself a mighty adventure. The whole wide world is yours xxo.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard book to rate because it is somewhat uneven. The prose is pedestrian, and each chapter ends with a moralizing sentence trying to sum up the life of the woman in question. The whole volume definitely has the feeling of self-publishing without a professional editor, and many of the chapters are book reports on other sources.

That said, it is valuable to have this collection of stories about many of these women in one place. I particularly value the focus on Native American women representing some of the tribes most impacted by the white development of the Grand Canyon, which are a completely different take than the adventuring tourism focus of the majority of the book. The chapters written from personal interviews are the most compelling.

Overall, entertaining and informative, but not the best writing.

Borrowed from GW during isolation. Read in stages between other books.

[Emily]

I was so excited about this book when I purchased it while on a visit to the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately it not very well written. I almost put it down several times because it was so off putting.

I’m glad I finished it, because I learned about the women who impacted, and were impacted by, the canyon. But Leavengood’s prose didn’t do the women justice. I think a good editor who knew what they were doing could have helped.

[Erin Wilson Johansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fascinating to learn about women pioneers in the canyon. I know the book was printed 10+ years ago but could be opted to more current times or at least reference that names have changed. I most liked the stories about the Native American women who are part of a canyon. Great story of history as I get ready to hike the canyon and will embrace and appreciate its history even more.

[Sophie Cimon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential. I felt the stories of women before modern times were better, more inspirationnal maybe. Or it felt more special … most of the recent stories were a bit boring. I love the idea to include native women in the reprint, but the choses stories did not really inspired anything. Kind of a disapointment for a promising book.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty Leavengood focuses on the lives of interesting, significant, influential, and relatively unknown women who were born in the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s and who had some connection to the Grand Canyon.

Food: Campfire time: stew.

[Emalee L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently took a trip to the Grand Canyon back in January and picked this book up at one of the visitor centers. I’m so glad I did! I loved learning about all these women all the different little short stories. I am definitely going to share this book with friends and family.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

content was excellent and informative; prose left something to be desired

[Megan (DaRcyWho) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, empowering, and it will deepen your love of the Grand Canyon or excite it!

[Lauren Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

What great stories! I loved this book. Very inspiring and enjoyable throughout.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for people, especially women, who love that part of the Southwest or have hiked that canyon. I am such a person in a family of folks who love that area.

[Amber Dickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was one of my purchases at the Grand Canyon gift shop on my first visit there this year.

[Danielle Mintzlaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an inspirational read.

[Ailsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so gooooood bought it in the gift shop at the rim and it’s just so intriguing and inspiring. I’m hooked!!!

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

so interesting to read about all these women truly a gold secondhand bookstore find

[Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author isn't necessarily the best writer in the world, but rivers and canyons are my thing, so I absolutely loved reading about all of the different adventures in this book....especially since they are all adventures of women. Georgie White Clark is probably the craziest one of all!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just confirms that I would love to get the Grand Canyon more myself. Planning a trip with my sister in a couple of years to walk or ride into the Canyon. I've only every been on the rim. It was great to hear about the Canyon's impact on other women's lives.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to re-read this one.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Power to women! Rangers, visitors and volunteers!

[Kassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great bunch of amazing women. Well told, wide range of backgrounds.

[gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the writing is a bit uneven, these stories are all so inspiring I have to give it 4 stars.

Favorite chapter: Gale Burak.

[Deborah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and awesome, I loved this book so much x

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[DeAnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were well written and I felt a connection to the person, while others were quite boring, with no emotional attachment at all.

[Caprice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of the beloved canyon and the beautiful women who have loved, lived and fought for her and her peoples. I would really love for another book filled with more stories!!!