Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Kanab in Kane County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

Exploration and Colonization

The Early Settlers

 
 
Exploration and Colonization Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
1. Exploration and Colonization Marker
Inscription.
The Ancient Ones

Evidence of the Anasazi's footsteps across the high plateaus of the area date back 2000 years. They were cliff dwellers who hunted deer and mountain sheep, and farmed the land. The Anasazi reached the peak of their culture from about 700 A.D. to 1000 A.D. In 1300 A.D., they abandoned their homes and moved southward. The cause of their departure is unclear, but it is believed that a severe drought or invasion by the Navajos precipitated their move out of the area.

After the Anasazi disappeared, the area was criss-crossed by nomadic tribes of Paiute and Navajo Indians. The Kaibab Band of Paiutes & the Navajo continue to live here and contribute to our cultural heritage.

Spanish Explorers

In 1776, the first Europeans led by Father Escalante and Father Dominguez, explored this area seeking a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to California. At that time the region was Spanish territory that later passed to Mexico. As a result of the war with Mexico in 1846, the territory became part of the United States in the 1848 Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo. The old Spanish trails of that time later became the foundations
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
for the highways of today.

Early Mormon Settlers

Mormon pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, in 1847. Within a few years, many new settlements were established as the region was explored. Jacob Hamblin, a frontiersman and Indian missionary, was instrumental in the settlement of the Kanab area. Under the direction of Hamblin, construction of Fort Kanab was started in 1864 to provide a base for exploration & protection from Indian attacks. Frequent Indian attacks made it impractical to maintain the fort and it was abandoned in 1866. Fort Kanab was then periodically occupied until June 14, 1870, when the party of settlers under the leadership of Levi Stewart arrived to establish a permanent settlement.

——————

The Early Settlers

During the late 1860's and 1870's numerous settlers contributed to the establishment of Kanab as a permanent community. This monument erected June 14, 2001 is dedicated to those early settlers and their families whose courage and vision made the settlement of Kanab possible.
 
Erected 2001.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these
The Early Settlers Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
2. The Early Settlers Marker
topic lists: Hispanic AmericansIndigenous Peoples and CommunitiesSettlements & SettlersWar, Mexican-American. In addition, it is included in the Old Spanish National Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 14, 1943.
 
Location. 37° 2.96′ N, 112° 32.114′ W. Marker is in Kanab, Utah, in Kane County. It can be reached from North 300 West. The marker is in Levi Stewart Memorial Park, on North 300 West (US Route 89). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kanab UT 84741, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Tragedy (a few steps from this marker); Fort Kanab (a few steps from this marker); Jacob Hamblin (within shouting distance
Exploration and Colonization Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
3. Exploration and Colonization Marker
Looking NW
of this marker); Peggie Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); Penny Edwards (within shouting distance of this marker); Fay Hamblin (within shouting distance of this marker); Jim Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); Brian Keith (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kanab.
 
Regarding Exploration and Colonization. The word 'Guadalupe' is misspelled in the marker text as 'Guadelupe'.
 
Early Settlers 01 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
4. Early Settlers 01
Early Settlers 02 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
5. Early Settlers 02
Early Settlers 03 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
6. Early Settlers 03
Early Settlers 04 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
7. Early Settlers 04
Early Settlers 05 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
8. Early Settlers 05
Early Settlers 06 image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010
9. Early Settlers 06
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,045 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 1, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
m=41366

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jul. 5, 2026