The Great Unknown

The Great Unknown. John Wesley Powell, 1869. Teacher, Civil War veteran, scientist, and naturalist - John Wesley Powell was driven by the idea to explore the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers. , He arranged funds, men, and equipment in the winter of 1868-1869. The expedition was sponsored by the Illinois Natural History Society and the purpose of the journey was scientific exploration. , The men accompanying Major Powell were mostly frontiersmen and Civil War veterans - Walter H. Powell, George Bradley, John Sumner, Carmel Howland, Seneca Howland, Bill Dunn, Bill Hawkins, Frank Goodman, and Andy Hall. , Their boats - Emma Dean, Maid of the Canyon, Kitty Clyde's Sister, and the No Name - were each designed to carry the men and a ton of gear and food. , Amid fanfare, celebration and trepidation, the group started off from a point about 1/4 mile upstream this sign to explore the "great unknown" on May 24th, 1869. , Half-starved and worn out, Powell and five remaining men reached the Virgin River three months later. Frank Goodman, left the party in Utah; Bill Dunn and the Howland brothers left the group in the Grand Canyon and were killed by Indians on the South Rim. , Far from being satisfied, John Wesley Powell soon began making plans for a return trip two years later.