During a 1903 visit to the Grand Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt made a speech in which he said: "In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which, so far as I know, is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to do one thing in connection with it in your own interest and in the interest of the country - to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is... Leave it as it is."