The 1869 Powell Expedition
By the mid 1800s, the US government had funded many scientific expeditions and as a result, claimed many territories and lands expanding into the western half of the continent. The "Great Unknown" was quickly shrinking. Yet, there was one last frontier: the Colorado River and its canyon lands.
Even before the expedition that we see in Men on Boats, John Wesley Powell took part in many personal adventures exploring the Mississippi, Ohio, and Illinois Rivers and their surrounding territories all before the age of 25. Through these experiences, Powell gained a great love of the natural sciences and geology. He worked his way through his studies, exploring his passion for the beauty of the Earth until he became a teacher to share his personal experience and geological knowledge.
When the Civil War came, Powell, a strong voice against slavery, joined the Union Army. He worked his way through the ranks and as a captain fought in the Battle of Shilo where he lost his right arm to an explosion. Nevertheless, Powell continued to fight until the end, earning the rank of Major.
After the Civil War, John Wesley Powell resumed his teaching, now as a geology professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. It was here that Powell reignited his passion for adventure and exploration. In 1867, through conversations with a guide who had experienced the Colorado River, Powell learned about the river and surrounding canyons and decided he would make these uncharted lands his next adventure.
In order to obtain the funds for the journey, Powell sought aid from the Illinois State Natural History Society, Illinois Industrial University, and Chicago Academy of the Sciences. Because of the rocky terrain, unnavigable parts of the river, and the territories belonging to natives, the US government hesitated to see the profitable value of Powell's chosen subject. While Powell did not receive direct government funding for this trip, the US military provided essential rations and supplies for the journey. Things were looking up for Powell.
No one who knew about the expedition could have guessed at the legacy that the three month trip would give to the Grand Canyon. Yet, indeed, no one knew the dangers and costly errors that lay ahead. (Continue below).
Even before the expedition that we see in Men on Boats, John Wesley Powell took part in many personal adventures exploring the Mississippi, Ohio, and Illinois Rivers and their surrounding territories all before the age of 25. Through these experiences, Powell gained a great love of the natural sciences and geology. He worked his way through his studies, exploring his passion for the beauty of the Earth until he became a teacher to share his personal experience and geological knowledge.
When the Civil War came, Powell, a strong voice against slavery, joined the Union Army. He worked his way through the ranks and as a captain fought in the Battle of Shilo where he lost his right arm to an explosion. Nevertheless, Powell continued to fight until the end, earning the rank of Major.
After the Civil War, John Wesley Powell resumed his teaching, now as a geology professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. It was here that Powell reignited his passion for adventure and exploration. In 1867, through conversations with a guide who had experienced the Colorado River, Powell learned about the river and surrounding canyons and decided he would make these uncharted lands his next adventure.
In order to obtain the funds for the journey, Powell sought aid from the Illinois State Natural History Society, Illinois Industrial University, and Chicago Academy of the Sciences. Because of the rocky terrain, unnavigable parts of the river, and the territories belonging to natives, the US government hesitated to see the profitable value of Powell's chosen subject. While Powell did not receive direct government funding for this trip, the US military provided essential rations and supplies for the journey. Things were looking up for Powell.
No one who knew about the expedition could have guessed at the legacy that the three month trip would give to the Grand Canyon. Yet, indeed, no one knew the dangers and costly errors that lay ahead. (Continue below).
On May 25, 1869, Powell and nine volunteer men began their journey from the Green River in Wyoming in high spirits. Their supplies were coffee, apples, flour and bacon loaded up into four wooden boats supplied by the army. The rag tag group ranged from war veterans, to hunters, to frontiersmen, to adventure men. Powell thought that the team was well prepared to tackle whatever hit them, but he was wrong.
Just 28 days into the expedition, after the raging waters, constant portaging, slip ups, and almost drowning in an accident at Disaster falls, Frank Goodman, a British adventure man had enough. He was the first to leave the group. In this disastrous wreck, one of the boats crashed and broke apart in the rapids. Crucial supplies were lost, and the men had to re-distribute their weight and supplies within the remaining three boats. Through the weeks, the crew had minor successes but many more failures leaving them risking their lives, low on energy, and uncertain when the river would ever clear up. Spirits were low in the men begin to lose confidence in Powell and his commands to push forward.
On August 27, Oramel Holland, along with his brother Seneca Holland and William Dunn, fearing that no one would survive if they continued through the canyon, begged Powell to abandon the river and hike out to safety. Ultimately, with his goal in mind, Powell refused. The Howlands and Dunn climbed out over the ridge and planned to hike toward a Mormon settlement that they thought was nearby. Although they did not know it, the group was just miles from calmer waters, and they only had 40 miles left to go through the canyon. Paul and his crew Never heard from the Howlands or Dunn again. While it is presumed that they died on the way out, their bodies were never recovered. Speculation surrounding their journey claims a wide variety of possibilities: some say that they perished in the wilderness and their bodies were eaten by animals, others suspect Mormons murdered them, and even others say that they were mistaken for government officials and killed by an indigenous tribe in the area.
Powell and the remaining five men completed the expedition through the treacherous waters and the Grand Canyon just two days later. The story of their adventure would become national news as many thought the crew had perished. Ultimately the expedition lead to great interest in the area, especially from the US government. In 1871, Powell completed a second trip, this time with government funding, more supplies, experienced partners, and planning. This trip resulted in the notes and photographs that were ultimately compiled into a book and led to Powell’s national fame. Powell finally got to tour the US as a lecturing geologist and talk about what he loved most: the splendor and beauty of the canyon and what services in layers tell about the history of the world.
Just 28 days into the expedition, after the raging waters, constant portaging, slip ups, and almost drowning in an accident at Disaster falls, Frank Goodman, a British adventure man had enough. He was the first to leave the group. In this disastrous wreck, one of the boats crashed and broke apart in the rapids. Crucial supplies were lost, and the men had to re-distribute their weight and supplies within the remaining three boats. Through the weeks, the crew had minor successes but many more failures leaving them risking their lives, low on energy, and uncertain when the river would ever clear up. Spirits were low in the men begin to lose confidence in Powell and his commands to push forward.
On August 27, Oramel Holland, along with his brother Seneca Holland and William Dunn, fearing that no one would survive if they continued through the canyon, begged Powell to abandon the river and hike out to safety. Ultimately, with his goal in mind, Powell refused. The Howlands and Dunn climbed out over the ridge and planned to hike toward a Mormon settlement that they thought was nearby. Although they did not know it, the group was just miles from calmer waters, and they only had 40 miles left to go through the canyon. Paul and his crew Never heard from the Howlands or Dunn again. While it is presumed that they died on the way out, their bodies were never recovered. Speculation surrounding their journey claims a wide variety of possibilities: some say that they perished in the wilderness and their bodies were eaten by animals, others suspect Mormons murdered them, and even others say that they were mistaken for government officials and killed by an indigenous tribe in the area.
Powell and the remaining five men completed the expedition through the treacherous waters and the Grand Canyon just two days later. The story of their adventure would become national news as many thought the crew had perished. Ultimately the expedition lead to great interest in the area, especially from the US government. In 1871, Powell completed a second trip, this time with government funding, more supplies, experienced partners, and planning. This trip resulted in the notes and photographs that were ultimately compiled into a book and led to Powell’s national fame. Powell finally got to tour the US as a lecturing geologist and talk about what he loved most: the splendor and beauty of the canyon and what services in layers tell about the history of the world.