Summative Evaluation of the Trail Of Time at Grand Canyon National Park for University of New Mexico

ABSTRACT The Trail of Time is a 4.56 km (2.83 mile) long geologic timeline trail on Grand Canyon's South Rim, designed to give visitors a visceral appreciation for the magnitude of geologic time within the context of Grand Canyon. This summative evaluation was the final stage in a multipart evaluation effort for the Trail of Time project, seeking to answer the question: In what ways and to what extent do visitors develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for deep time and geology based on their experiences along the Trail of Time? To answer this question, the study used a naturalistic methodology and a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, including tracking and timing, unobtrusive observations of Park visitors walking the Trail, and depth interviews with selected respondents. Data indicated that the completed Trail of Time contributed in positive ways to many respondents' experiences as they walked between Grand Canyon Village and Yavapai Geology Museum. It inspired many respondents to think and talk about the rocks of the Canyon, their ages, and geologic processes such as erosion and volcanism in ways that weren't happening during earlier formative evaluation studies. The Trail enhanced visitors' walks along the rim by giving them up-close looks and sensory experiences with rocks from the Canyon's depths. It also facilitated meaningful social engagements within some groups, as children counted off the markers together, friends helped each other understand what they were seeing through the viewing tubes, and people of all ages talked with each other about the rocks mounted on plinths. The Trail also gave intergenerational social groups new ways to keep younger children interested during their long walks along the Canyon's rim. Many respondents gave evidence of being thoughtful and reflective along the Trail, especially as they talked about the ages of the rocks exposed in the Canyon. Some visitors gained a visceral or gut feeling for the immensity of geologic time. The Trail of Time was a complex and challenging exhibition and it took concentrated attention and committed time to figure out what it was and what it was trying to accomplish. Some visitors achieved an integrated understanding of the Trail. The data indicated that even when visitors focused mainly on the aesthetic rather than interpretive aspects of the Canyon, many also talked to noticed and talked about the plinth rocks and their ages, and sometimes about other interpretive elements along the Trail. Many of these respondents used vocabulary from the waysides and other signs and talked about Trail of Time concepts, including as they described their aesthetic experience of the Canyon. The Trail of Time was a significant addition to the visitor experience at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, reaching visitors with many levels of interest in and knowledge of the Canyon's geology. This report includes recommendations for improving the effectiveness of various components of the Trail and for ways that Park staff can support visitors' use and understanding of the Trail of Time. The appendix of this report includes the tracking and timing protocol used in the study.