The Kolb Brothers, Ellsworth and Emery, not only were pioneers in running the Colorado River, they were photographers.  Born in Pennsylvania, they moved to Arizona in the early 20th century and opened a photography studio at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

In 1911, wanting to retrace Powell’s journey and record their experiences through writing, motion pictures and photography, the brothers set out on September 8 from Green River, Wyoming, in two Galloway-type skiffs.  For most of the next four months, the pair descended the green and Colorado before reaching Needles, California on January 12, 1912.  Their films, photographs, and Ellsworth’s subsequent book, Through the Grand Canyon from Wyoming to Mexico, based on the trip, became extremely popular.

The Kolbs were later hired to assist in the joint expedition of the U.S. Geological Survey and Southern California Edison to survey the river for maps and dam-sites.  Though Ellsworth had little to do with the river after that, Emery continued navigating its rapids until 1938.