Ellsworth Leonardson Kolb (January 4, 1876 – January 9, 1960) was a pivotal figure in the early history of Grand Canyon exploration, renowned for his daring adventures and groundbreaking contributions to photography and filmmaking. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Edward and Ella Kolb, Ellsworth, often nicknamed “Ed,” was the eldest of four sons. His adventurous spirit and fearless attitude led him to the Grand Canyon in 1901, where he and his younger brother, Emery Clifford Kolb, established a legacy that transformed the canyon into a national icon. This article explores Ellsworth’s life, his contributions to Grand Canyon tourism, and his historic 1911–1912 river expedition, drawing from various historical accounts.
Early Life and Arrival at the Grand Canyon
Ellsworth Kolb grew up in Pittsburgh, where an accident in a steel mill prompted him to seek lighter work and new horizons. At age 24, he ventured west, initially working on telephone lines in Colorado and operating a snowplow at Pike’s Peak. His plans to sail to China were derailed when he visited the Grand Canyon in 1901. Captivated by its vast beauty, he decided to stay, taking a job chopping wood at the Bright Angel Hotel under Arizona pioneer Martin Buggeln. His hard work earned him a promotion to porter, and by 1902, he sent for his younger brother Emery, an aspiring photographer, to join him. Together, they laid the foundation for a photography business that would shape Grand Canyon tourism.
In 1902, the Kolb brothers set up a tent at the head of the Bright Angel Trail, photographing tourists on muleback as they descended into the canyon. This marked the beginning of their entrepreneurial venture in the fledgling tourism industry, which was gaining traction as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway brought visitors to the South Rim. Their early darkroom was rudimentary—a blanket over a prospector’s hole—and they faced logistical challenges, such as hauling water from a muddy cow tank miles away or sprinting nine miles to Indian Garden for spring water to develop their photographs. Despite these hardships, their innovative approach to capturing the canyon’s beauty set them apart.
The Kolb Studio: A Grand Canyon Icon
By 1904, the brothers had constructed the Kolb Studio, a modest structure perched precariously on the South Rim, overlooking the Bright Angel Trail. Initially a two-room shack, it served as both their home and photographic studio. Over the years, it evolved through two major additions and numerous modifications, becoming a five-story building that included a small theater for showing their films. The studio became a cornerstone of early Grand Canyon tourism, where the Kolbs sold prints to returning mule riders, showcasing their valor against the canyon’s dramatic backdrop. The structure, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as a testament to their legacy and is operated by the Grand Canyon Conservancy as a gallery and bookstore.
Ellsworth’s easygoing, rakish personality complemented Emery’s intense, combative nature, creating a dynamic partnership. While Emery focused on the technical aspects of photography, Ellsworth’s adventurous spirit drove their bolder exploits. Their studio not only documented the canyon’s landscapes but also captured intimate portraits of early tourists, preserving a visual history of the park’s formative years. Their work faced resistance from the government, railroad companies, and competing tourism enterprises, but their persistence and ingenuity kept their business thriving.
The 1911–1912 Colorado River Expedition
Ellsworth’s most celebrated achievement was the 1911–1912 expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers, a daring journey inspired by John Wesley Powell’s 1869 exploration. With little whitewater experience, Ellsworth and Emery set out from Green River, Wyoming, on September 8, 1911, in two wooden Galloway-type skiffs, aiming to capture the first motion pictures of the Colorado River’s rapids. The 1,100-mile journey to Needles, California, took 101 days, testing their physical and mental endurance as they navigated 365 large rapids, endured freezing waters, and salvaged equipment from flooded boats. Their first assistant abandoned the trip early, but they were joined by Bert Lauzon, a resilient miner, for the final leg.
The expedition was not just a physical feat but a groundbreaking cinematic endeavor. Using a newly invented motion-picture camera, the Kolbs produced the first moving pictures of the Colorado River, a film that became the longest-running movie in history, shown at their studio from 1915 until Emery’s death in 1976. Ellsworth’s journal from the trip formed the basis of his 1914 book, Through the Grand Canyon from Wyoming to Mexico, published by Macmillan, which included 76 black-and-white photographs and was featured extensively in the August 1914 issue of National Geographic. The book and film brought the Grand Canyon’s majesty to a global audience, cementing the Kolbs’ fame.
In 1913, Ellsworth returned alone to Needles, California, and rowed to the Gulf of California, completing the entire Colorado River journey. This solo trip further showcased his fearless nature and resulted in additional photographs and writings that enriched the Kolbs’ legacy. Their work not only popularized the Grand Canyon but also aided later expeditions, including a 1914 U.S. Geological Survey and Southern California Edison project to survey the river for maps and dam sites.
Later Years and Legacy
By 1924, Ellsworth sold his share of the Kolb Studio to Emery and moved to Los Angeles, though he occasionally returned for canyon adventures. Emery continued operating the studio, photographing mule strings and narrating their film nightly until his death in 1976 at age 95. Ellsworth died on January 9, 1960, at age 83, and was laid to rest in the Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery, near his brother. Their contrasting personalities—Ellsworth’s carefree adventurism and Emery’s tenacity—made them a formidable team, overcoming corporate and bureaucratic challenges to maintain their business.
The Kolb brothers’ contributions extended beyond photography. They were among the first to accomplish double crossings of the Grand Canyon, served as early guides, and participated in rescues, such as the 1919 search for a missing hiker. Their photographic archive, preserved at Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library, remains a vital historical resource. Their story, detailed in works like Roger Naylor’s The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon and William C. Suran’s biography, highlights their role as pioneers who blended art, adventure, and entrepreneurship to shape the Grand Canyon’s identity.
Ellsworth Kolb’s legacy is one of courage and vision. His fearless exploration and innovative use of photography and film brought the Grand Canyon’s wonders to the world, inspiring generations of adventurers and visitors. Today, the Kolb Studio stands as a monument to his and Emery’s indomitable spirit, inviting visitors to step into the history of two brothers who dared to chase their dreams on the edge of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.