Honeymoon Trip, June 1941

This charming home movie, filmed in June 1941, likely in vibrant Kodachrome, chronicles a newlywed couple’s honeymoon journey across the American West. The reel begins with lighthearted scenes of family farewell: an outdoor meal with extended relatives, people lining up with trays for food, and games of horseshoes and quoits, capturing a festive send-off. The trip unfolds with stunning natural wonders, starting with tourists marveling at glaciers amid high mountains and waterfalls. A sign for Bryce Canyon National Park marks their exploration of its surreal rock formations, followed by pack trip footage—possibly on horseback—through rugged Western park landscapes. Point-of-view shots through the windshield reveal a thrilling drive along roads with tunnels carved into mountainsides. The Grand Canyon emerges as a highlight, with shots of the couple lounging near the park sign and standing by the Hermits Rest overlook. Other stops include Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam), surrounded by vast desert and cacti, and a whimsical drive through a tunnel in a giant redwood tree, where women pose playfully beside towering sequoias. Waterfalls add to the scenic montage. The film closes with the couple’s return: their car pulls into a garage, the man unloads luggage, and two women wave before humorously shutting themselves inside as they close the garage door—a quirky, memorable finale to a classic 1941 road trip.