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:

Jan 12, 2021Sailing on thick ice
Feb 10, 2022The Old City of Bern
Apr 1, 2019Unbearable cuteness
Jun 2, 2018Happy 50th for the National Trails System!
Jun 8, 2019Diving into World Oceans Day
Aug 8, 2019Spot on for International Cat Day
Oct 17, 2022Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
Jan 21, 2020Observing a squirrelly day
Mar 28, 2021Cherry blossoms spring to life
Oct 26, 2023Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Oct 18, 2018Fall comes to the Last Frontier
Apr 24, 2025Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska
Jul 25, 2023Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain
Dec 28, 2022Maloja, Switzerland
Apr 14, 2023Mediterranean red sea stars
Apr 19, 2021Rays on parade
Nov 26, 2021Native American Heritage Day
Jan 24, 2020Sunlight sets Iceland s Eyjafjallajökull aglow
Nov 29, 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Jun 15, 2020Surfer s paradise
Dec 28, 2019Did they forget to fly south?
Oct 22, 2023Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon
Jan 14, 2021Summer huts in winter
Dec 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
Jun 8, 2024National Rivers Month
Jul 23, 2025Vatican City with St. Peters Basilica
May 2, 2020Morocco in bloom
Jun 8, 2023World Oceans Day