I can see why they did that though. If they made a comment towards either the creationist camp or the evolutionist camp they would offend the other possibly losing business in the process. I actually think it's quite wise of them to decline offering an opinion especially considering how feverent the creationist about their beliefs and how extreme their reactions seem to be.

Wow. Great link. What is the Biblical "date" of the flood? And why are creationists so obsessed over claiming the Canyon was created by the flood? I've never heard anyone claim or care about the Canyon/flood theory before. Amazing.

If they made a comment towards either the creationist camp or the evolutionist camp they would offend the other possibly losing business in the process.

But it's a National Park, not a for-profit venture.

I see your point, LF, and I suspect that your argument entered into their considerations, but I don't see anything in the NPS' mission statement about offending people or maintaining a thriving tourism business.

But is a national park required to comment on why or how the feature it protects got there? Perhaps it's best to just avoid the subject altogether, as they have done, and avoid the inevitable conflict that would follow.

And no, parks don't make "profit" but they are responsible to cover their operating costs, or so I've been told. Therefore they need all the revenue they can get as personel and equipment aren't cheap.

The NPS' mission includes 'educating park visitors and the general public about their common heritage.' I'm not sure you can maintain that goal while giving 'no comment' answers to people who ask how old the canyon is.

I didn't know that was in their mandate. That is odd then.

Right, that was my point. It's a publicly funded national resource designed to educate visitors -- the national parks are like outdoor museums in some ways.

I'm thinking visitors are just asking the wrong question. If you happen on a ranger tour out there, just point at the Colorado River at the bottom, and ask "How long has that river been there?"