Analysis: From Canyons of the Colorado
"Analysis: From Canyons of the Colorado" explores the expeditions of John Wesley Powell, a prominent geologist, who led transformative river journeys through the Colorado River system in the late 19th century, particularly his renowned trip through the Grand Canyon. The document highlights Powell's motivations for documenting these explorations, correcting misconceptions surrounding them, and providing insights into the geological and cultural significance of the regions he traversed. It emphasizes Powell's scientific rigor and commitment to meticulous record-keeping, as well as his interactions with Native American communities encountered along the way. The narrative also reflects on the broader context of American expansion and conservation efforts during a time when the frontier was considered to have closed, sparking public interest in the natural beauty of the western landscapes. Powell’s writings serve to both document the challenges of his journey and convey the awe he felt for the majestic geological features, such as Flaming Gorge. This blend of scientific inquiry and vivid description captures a pivotal moment in American history, marking the transition from wilderness exploration to a burgeoning interest in conservation and tourism. Overall, this work invites readers to appreciate the complexity of these explorations and their enduring impact on the perception of the American West.
Analysis: From Canyons of the Colorado
Date: 1869 (published 1895)
Author: John Wesley Powell
Genre: journal
Summary Overview
John Wesley Powell, a professor of geology, was fascinated by the system of rivers that flow into the Colorado River, as well as the Colorado itself. Just two years into his teaching career, he traveled to Wyoming to begin the first in a series of exploratory river trips, with the most famous being the second one in which he and his team successfully floated through the Grand Canyon. This document, published more than twenty-years after that famous second journey, contained excerpts from the journals he kept during the first two expeditions. These passages from Canyons of the Colorado are from the book's preface and fifth chapter, which focused on the first leg of the journey, from the city of Green River, Wyoming, to the Flaming Gorge canyon. As can be seen from the introductory passage, there had been many misconceptions about Powell's explorations, so he published material from his journals to provide an accurate account of the expedition and its scientific findings.
Defining Moment
When the 1890 census was compiled, the Census Bureau declared that the American frontier no longer existed. The settlement of the West, while not as dense as settlement east of the Mississippi River, had created a region throughout which people of Euroamerican descent could now be found. While the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and overly optimistic reports about the resources of the West had lured people across the continent to bring “order” to the wilderness (or so it was thought), many people felt a sense of loss as the wilderness areas continued to shrink. The western forests were the focus of much of the work to conserve wilderness areas, including the creation of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks and the passing of the Forest Reserve Act (the predecessor to the creation of the National Forests). Under this act, the Grand Canyon was designated a forest reserve in 1893, reigniting interest in the land and the river. Other pivotal leaders of the conservation movement were publishing well-received books on their earlier expeditions into the wilderness. Having recently retired from the United States Geological Survey, John Wesley Powell had the time to create a new edition of his travel journals, in what he called “popular form,” with the addition of illustrations based on photographs, as well as some photographs from the 1871–72 trip.
Accounts of this trip had previously been published in 1875, as alluded to in the text, in the form of four magazine articles and then a book. However, Powell had never taken the time to create a full picture of not just what he and his associates had experienced, but also of the Native American peoples they encountered and the geological formations that had created these scenic wonders. The general public was eager to vicariously experience what was seen as the heroic actions of those who had challenged the wilderness in previous decades. Powell's journey into the unknown reaches of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon more than fulfilled the general population's desires. In addition, over the prior few years, several individuals had begun developing tourist facilities on the south rim of the canyon, increasing the desire to learn about it for those considering travel to what was then a remote area. Thus, the time was right both for Powell to share his experiences and views, and for the public to receive them.
Author Biography
John Wesley Powell (1834–1902) was born in New York and died in Maine. However, the work for which he was best known was in the western United States on the Colorado River and its tributaries. His family ended up in Illinois, from where he undertook several trips on the Mississippi and its tributaries. After studying the natural sciences in college, he served in the Civil War, where he lost his right arm. Afterwards, he served as a geology professor at Illinois Wesleyan, the Illinois Normal School, and became the head of the US Geological Survey (USGS) from 1881 to 1894. He was the director of the Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE) at the Smithsonian Institution until his death. While he made great contributions to science and general knowledge by his transformation of the USGS and as founder of the BAE, his best known exploits were his exploratory trips down the Green and Colorado Rivers between 1867 and 1872.
Document Analysis
Powell's preface is basically an explanation of why the journey had been made and why previous editions of his journal had been published in the forms in which they were. Powell also gives thanks to those who had gone with him and for the experience. In the passage from the fifth chapter, he records the initial days of the journey. This gives an indication of the difficulty of river travel as well as the concerns that might have affected his careful planning. In this passage, he also demonstrates his emphasis on keeping scientifically accurate records. However, in reading the full text, it can be seen that these first few days were tame compared with some that were yet to come.
Dedicating his book to the other nine on the 1869 expedition, Powell closes the preface by indicating the high esteem in which he held the others. Although not all of them completed the journey, Powell knew that each was important. Although his focus on scientific inquiry, rather than completing the journey as quickly as possible, did cause conflict with many of the others, it was the scientific aspect of the expedition which made such a valuable contribution to filling in one of the last gaps on the maps of the western United States. The preface also indicates why the book needed to be changed from past editions, since those were done quickly to recoup the finances he had put toward the effort or to assure funding for future research. By adding the illustrations and photographs, Powell hoped to make up for the “weakness” of his “descriptive powers.” In the full text, there are more than 225 illustrations, making this a luxurious book for its day.
The material from the fifth chapter describes the preparations he had made, a shorter expedition on the Green River two years previously, some land exploration he had done in the months prior to May 1869, and the placement of supplies. The specially ordered boats, fully described in the opening section of the first day, suggest the care with which Powell prepared for the expedition. In his later years, Powell was known as a consummate administrator, and this was reflected in his preparations. Many of the supplies, enumerated in this section, would not have been taken by other explorers, but Powell wanted to ensure success. However, also differing from other expedition leaders, Powell did not carry a gun.
The sturdiness of the boats is illustrated by the accident the first day out, when one of them struck a rock and sustained no damage except a broken oar. As implied by his previous description of the boats, this type of incident was something he expected to happen quite often. Stopping early the first evening not only assured their safety, but also allowed time for his research. Even though he had previously had been on this part of the river, for Powell there was always more to learn and new things to see and experience. The richness of his language belies his claim that he did not have the literary skill to do the terrain justice.
The unpleasantness of the second day, followed by the beauty of the third, set the pattern of what was to follow. Over the length of the journey, the weather could not be depended upon to be beautiful every day, but the beauty and unique formation of the rocks were always present. This was especially true as they entered what they named “Flaming Gorge,” at the approach toward the northern border of Utah. Even someone as well traveled as Powell is awestruck at the sight of the beautiful cliffs. They were only three days and sixty-two miles into their journey, and already, the wonders of nature were overwhelming them.
Bibliography and Additional Reading
deBuys, William, ed. Seeing Things Whole: The Essential John Wesley Powell. Washington: Island P, 2001. Print.
“Lost in the Grand Canyon,” The American Experience. PBS/WGBH, 1996–2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
Powell, John Wesley. Canyons of the Colorado. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1895. Project Gutenberg, 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
Rabbitt, Mary C. “John Wesley Powell's Exploration of the Colorado River,” Geological Survey. Washington, D.C.: US Geological Survey, 1978 – 2006. Web. Accessed 16 October 2014.
US Geological Survey. “John Wesley Powell: Soldier, Explorer, Scientist.” Geological Survey Information 74–24. US Geological Survey, 1976–2006. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.