Springdale in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Discovery of Zion Canyon

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 12, 2014

1. Discovery of Zion Canyon Marker

Inscription. In 1858, Nephi Johnson, one of Brigham Young's scouts, with a party of Indian guides arrived at the mouth of the canyon. Due to superstition, the Indians refused to enter the canyon. Nephi Johnson, alone, followed up river to the Narrows, a place "where the sun is seldom seen," returning to the mouth at nightfall. Isaac Buhannin, an early settler, seeing the spires remarked, "Surely this is God's first temple and should be called Zion." William Heaps helped to build homes for the early settlers in the canyon.

Erected 1938 by Zion Park Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 37° 11.345′ N, 112° 59.893′ W. Marker is in Springdale, Utah, in Washington County. It is on Zion Park Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 868 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale UT 84767, 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,

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historic Irrigation Ditch (approx. 0.4 miles away); Birth of a Park (approx. one mile away); Promised Land

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. one mile away); Westward Expansion (approx. one mile away); Original Inhabitants / Living Traditions (approx. one mile away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 1.7 miles away); Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel and Highway, Utah (approx. 2.4 miles away); Impassable Barrier (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springdale.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 12, 2014

2. Discovery of Zion Canyon Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 12, 2014

3. Discovery of Zion Canyon Marker

Zion Narrows image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 27, 2007

4. Zion Narrows

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,639 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 20, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.