Canyon de Chelly. Canyon de Chelly National Monument has been a significant subject in American art, particularly for its stunning landscapes and cultural history. Artists frequently depict its towering red sandstone cliffs, steep canyon walls, and the striking geological formations like Spider Rock. The canyon is also portrayed with the ancient ruins of the Ancestral Puebloans and the enduring presence of the Navajo Nation, which continues to inhabit the area. In the early 20th century, artists of the American Southwest, including members of the Taos Society of Artists, were drawn to the dramatic contrasts of light and shadow within the canyon. Edgar Payne and other prominent landscape painters captured its rugged beauty using vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes, emphasizing the vastness and grandeur of the space. Photographers like Ansel Adams also immortalized Canyon de Chelly, focusing on its timeless and monumental landscape. Modern and contemporary artists continue to represent Canyon de Chelly, often highlighting its spiritual significance, historical depth, and natural majesty. The canyon's representation in art consistently emphasizes its monumental beauty, intricate rock formations, and its role as a living connection to Native American culture. Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established on April 1, 1931, as a unit of the National Park Service. Located in northeastern Arizona, it is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, it preserves ruins of the indigenous tribes that lived in the area, from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Navajo. The monument covers 83,840 acres and encompasses the floors and rims of the three major canyons: de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument. These canyons were cut by streams with headwaters in the Chuska Mountains just to the east of the monument. None of the land is federally owned. Canyon de Chelly is one of the most visited national monuments in the United States. The name Chelly is a Spanish borrowing of the Navajo word, which means rock canyon. The Navajo pronunciation is. The Spanish pronunciation of de Chelly was adapted into English, apparently modeled on a French-like spelling pronunciation, and is now dÉ™-. Further information: Battle of Canyon de Chelly Canyon de Chelly is thought to have been sporadically occupied by Hopi Indians from circa 1300 to the early 1700s, when the Navajo then moved into the canyon from places in northern New Mexico. From that time forward it has served as a home for Navajo people before it was invaded by forces led by future New Mexico governor Lt. Antonio Narbona in 1805, during which time 115 Navajos were slain and 33 taken captive. In 1863, Col. Kit Carson sent troops through the canyon, killing 23 Navajo, seizing 200 sheep, and destroying hogans, as well as peach orchards and other crops. The resulting demoralization led to the surrender of the Navajos and their removal to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. Canyon de Chelly is entirely owned by the Navajo Tribal Trust of the Navajo Nation. It is the only National Park Service unit that is owned and cooperatively managed in this manner. About 40 Navajo families live in the park. Access to the canyon floor is restricted, and visitors are allowed to travel in the canyons only when accompanied by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.
