The Colorado River: Its History in the Lower Canyons Area

The Colorado River: Its History in the Lower Canyons Area

1972-August

Dissertation by Melvin T. Smith, presented to the faculty in the Department of History, Brigham Young University, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy. Dr. Smith discusses the history and difficulties of finding safe river routes through the lower canyons water system of the Colorado River. Included are major projects by the Military, US Government, Mormons, and impacts on the river. Contains maps and photographs.

Public domain in the United States via the 1976 Copyright Act.

111 mb

Brigham Young University

UTU Special Collections and Archives

Department of History, Brigham Young University.

"While much has been written about the Colorado River, little scholarly study has been expended on the region of its lower canyons. This project reviews the major primary resources dealing with its history from the Aboriginals to the twentieth century. Successive claims were laid to the region by the Indians, who yet survive; by the Spaniards who came and left; by the Mexicans and American trappers and traders who explored and exploited its streams' resources; and by the Mormons, the Military, and the miners, whose tenure continues into the present.
Common needs for efficient transportation produced numerous attempts to navigate the river. Succes was moderate. Only when those labors (especially of government officials) produced facts about the river's peculiarities, did long-range programs emerge that eventually could control and contain the Colorado. This study reviews major undertakings with marginal means, often with more failures than successes. Yet it provides insights into both the programs and the reasons for them, of the individuals, and institutions involved" (page 3).

Includes the following chapters:

1. The Great Colorado; The Basin, The Region, the River. 
2. Naming the River: Colorado
3. The Indians: A Lasting Heritage
4. The Spainards: Three Centuries of Claims
5. The Americans: Trappers and Traders
6. The Colorado: Exploring the River
7. 35th Parallel Route: Wagon Roads and Railroads
8. The Mormons: Navigation and Settlement
9. Navigation of the Colorado River: Supply Line to the Military and Miners
10. The Colorado Crossings: Grand to Black Canyons
11. The Colorado Crossings: Blakc Canyon to the Needles
12. Summary and Conclusion

2025-07-31

1972

1972-07-20

1972

1972-08-01

1978 (via 1976 Copyright Act)

Paperback

Academic

PhD candidates and Doctoral Degree holders

Gift of Dr. Melvin T. Smith, 1986

Paperback