Green River in Sweetwater County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Powell - Colorado River Expedition 1869
This adventure, no odyssey if measured by elapsed time alone, easily qualifies by the other standards of suspense, danger and action. Its successful completion captured and held the admiration of a nation.
John Wesley Powell himself -- cast in the hero's role and endowed with rare executive and scientific talents -- rode the crest of national acclaim into public service and the highest councils of the republic. Over the years his ever-sharpening executive ability resulted in the creation and productiveness of important federal agencies, while his scientific genius contributed to the advancement of such divergent disciplines as ethnology, geology and agronomy. Perhaps his greatest gift to the nation, conceived during Colorado River explorations, was the theory of arid-land culture, as developed, through his success in fathering the Bureau of Reclamation. This theory has changed the face of western landscapes and caused extensive geographic regions to blossom and thrive.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1869.
Location. 41° 31.431′ N, 109° 28.341′ W. Marker is in Green River, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. Marker can be reached from South 2nd East Street near East 4th South Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 398 South 2nd East Street, Green River WY 82935, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sunbeam - 1908 (a few steps from this marker); Nathaniel Galloway - 1890's (a few steps from this marker); George Flavell (a few steps from this marker); The Paddlewheeler Comet - 1908 (a few steps from this marker); Julius Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Kolb Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); John Wesley Powell, 1871 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Damsite Surveys (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Green River.
More about this marker. This monument is located near the northwestern end of Island Park. Island Park occupies the northwestern portion of Expedition Island and is across the bridge at the south end of South 2nd East Street.
Also see . . .
1. John Wesley Powell - New World Encyclopedia. Powell ...earned fame through his Powell Geographic Expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers in 1869, which included the first known passage through the Grand Canyon. Powell published scientific accounts of his expeditions, as well as advancing proposals for land utilization and irrigation projects in the areas he studied. He also published his work on classifying Native American languages. (Submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
2. John Wesley Powell - Wikipedia. At an 1883 irrigation conference, Powell would prophetically remark: "Gentlemen, you are piling up a heritage of conflict and litigation over water rights, for there is not sufficient water to supply the land."[19] Powell's recommendations for development of the West were largely ignored until after the Dust Bowl of the 1920s and 1930s, resulting in untold suffering associated with pioneer subsistence farms that failed due to insufficient rain. (Submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
3. The Powell Expedition -Grand Canyon Explorer. Powell had four boats specially built for the trip in Chicago and had them transported to Green River by way of the Union Pacific Railroad. Three of the boats were constructed of oak, "stanch and firm" as Powell would say. They were constructed such that each had three separate compartments, with the fore and aft compartments being sealed so as to make them watertight. (Submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 561 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.