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Monument Valley, with its skyward-reaching red rock monuments, has long been symbolic of the rugged deserts of the American West; however, before Western films, television shows, and commercials established its fame, Monument Valley was virtually inaccessible for locals and tourists. Even after the invention of the automobile, Monument Valley remained inaccessible due to the absence of an effective road system in the harsh terrain. Dolph Andrus, of Bluff, Utah, set out to change that, convinced that he could open Monument Valley to automobile tourism.

In the spring of 1917, Andrus left Bluff, Utah with William H. Hopkins, a dentist and enthusiastic photographer, to complete an automobile journey through Monument Valley, on to Kayenta, Tuba City, and Lee’s Ferry, Arizona. Later that summer, Andrus set off again with photographer, L.W. Clement, intending to photograph the natural bridges and monuments of the valley. Andrus’s wife, Irene, and daughter, Torma, accompanied them on this trip in which burros were used for transportation.

The bulk of this collection consists of the photographs taken during these tours of Monument Valley, Natural Bridges National Monuments, Zion National Park, the Colorado River, and the San Juan River. Andrus’s Maxwell automobile is featured in many of the images. The personal history of Dolph and Irene Andrus and log of these trips is also in the collection. The Monumental Highway Digital Collection is comprised of the Dolph Andrus Photograph Collection (P0542) and the Dr. William H. Hopkins Addendum Collection (P0360).

Visit the companion digital exhibit Dolph Andrus’s Monumental Highway Expeditions for more information.