Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park Dec 18, 2025

Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park

Rock layers formed over millions of years and a massive bend in the Earth"s crust give this desert a rare window into geologic history. This is Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, where sandstone cliffs and canyons preserve a striking record of the planet"s past. December 18 marks the anniversary of its designation as a national park in 1971. Today"s featured image highlights the sandstone monoliths of Cathedral Valley, including the Temple of the Sun, part of this extraordinary, protected landscape.

© Austin Cronnelly/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Dec 18, 2018A hit ballet, long after its debut
Dec 18, 2019It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Dec 18, 2020A towering view of the Pale Mountains
Dec 18, 2021Full moon
Dec 18, 2022South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 16, 2020It s Independence Day in Mexico
Oct 27, 2018Don’t get lost in there
Jan 25, 2024Ruins of St. Dwynwens Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales
Jun 17, 2020Don t go chasing waterfalls
Aug 16, 2023Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
Feb 10, 2024Happy Lunar New Year!
Apr 18, 2021In Sicily, history is everywhere
Jul 27, 2021Maybe we should be looking up
May 15, 2023The Canary Islands, Spain
Jul 18, 2020The moth wonderful time of the year
May 17, 2023Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
Apr 12, 2020Who created the Easter Bunny?
Jul 5, 2023Porto Timoni beach, Greece
Feb 24, 2020Wind horses carry wishes for a new year
Jun 16, 2018Drop in on International Surfing Day
Aug 14, 2022World Lizard Day
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Dec 21, 2018Paper lanterns on the longest night
Feb 11, 2020Celebrating women in science
Aug 24, 2022Ukrainian Independence Day
Apr 24, 2026Arbor Day
Jun 19, 2024Juneteenth
Mar 13, 2022Daylight saving time
Mar 27, 2025World Theater Day
Oct 6, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
May 8, 2023Arches National Park, Utah
Mar 5, 2018Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington
Jun 5, 2022World Environment Day
Aug 16, 2019Shining like Klondike gold
Mar 21, 2020It s World Poetry Day