The George W. Nilsson collection consists a typed article (manuscript), "In, Through and Across the Grand Canyon" and photographs which document Nilsson's trip across the Grand Canyon, August 28-30, 1921. Most of the photographs show scenes from the journey itself and the remaining show scenes before and after the journey: namely, Bryce Canyon, Kaibab Forest, Bright Angel Point, areas on the North Rim and the cabins of guides, Bill Vaughn and Al Jensen. Included is a typewritten list of the photographs to accompany Nilsson's article, originally intended for TOURING TOPICS, the publication of the Automobile Club of Southern California, and a list of the names of the photographers: A.J. Baker, Albert Wilkes, Sterling B. Talmage and George W. Nilsson. George W. Nilsson, an attorney in Prescott, Arizona, made a trip across Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim on horseback, August 28-30, 1921. Accompanying Nilsson were two scientists from Salt Lake City and one guide. Beginning on a bright August morning, stopping only long enough to eat breakfast at the El Tovar Hotel, they left the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail, which led to the Tonto Trail on which they journeyed down to the Colorado River, traversing the Tonto Plateau along the way. Several photographs document the crossing the Colorado River on a suspension-style foot-bridge. After crossing, Nilsson writes that a second guide met the party with fresh mounts and helped guide them towards the North Rim. They used the Bright Angel Creek as a route, detouring to Ribbon Falls to camp one night. Nilsson's description of this rugged route and the experience of climbing out of the Canyon on the North Rim is colorful, telling of the rigors of the steepness encountered, the variety of colors in the layers of formation of the Canyon and the spectacular views experienced. "Looking upward it seemed incredible that we could ever find a way to climb out. ...After a very precipitous climb, we suddenly came out upon the North Rim of the Canyon, a total climb of 5,600 feet from the river." Upon completion of the journey, the party spent a night in the Kaibab Forest, then drove to Bryce Canyon and Salt Lake City.
