John Wesley Powell's Colorado River and Grand Canyon Surveys (1869–1879)

1. Powell’s 1867 Colorado field season sparks canyon plans

   Jan 1, 1867Labels: John Wesley, Colorado Territory

   • USGS 1875
   • USGS Powell

2. First Powell river expedition launches from Green River

   May 24, 1869Labels: John Wesley, Green River

   • NPS History
   • Utah Geol

3. Powell expedition completes first Grand Canyon descent

   Aug 30, 1869Labels: Powell expedition, Grand Canyon

   • NV SHPO
   • NPS History

4. Congress creates Powell’s Rocky Mountain survey

   Jan 1, 1870Labels: Geographical and, U S

   • SI Archives
   • USGS Powell

5. Second river expedition begins with improved mapping goals

   Jan 1, 1871Labels: Second Powell, Green River

   • USGS Powell
   • SI Archives

6. Second expedition continues through 1872 field season

   Jan 1, 1872Labels: Second Powell, Colorado Plateau

   • USGS 1875
   • SI Archives

7. Powell publishes landmark Colorado River expedition report

   Jan 1, 1875Labels: Exploration of, Government Printing

   • USGS Pub

8. Powell issues influential Grand Canyon stratigraphic section

   Jan 1, 1875Labels: Grand Canyon, John Wesley

   • USGS Image

9. Powell warns Congress on settlement in the arid West

   Jan 1, 1878Labels: Report on, John Wesley

   • UNL EGP
   • USGS C1050

10. Congress establishes the Bureau of Ethnology under Powell

    Jan 1, 1879Labels: Bureau of, Smithsonian Institution

    • SI Spotlight
    • SI Archives

11. Powell’s survey work folded into the new USGS

    Mar 3, 1879Labels: U S, Congress

    • USGS Cir1552

12. Powell’s 1870s surveys culminate in new federal science era

    Dec 31, 1879Labels: Powell surveys, USGS

    • USGS Pub
    • SI Archives