Show Zion Canyon Notes 39 Years as Nat Park Colorful Zion Canyon which is becoming more popular each year as a favorite tourist attraction was 39 years old as a National Park on Wednesday As a canyon Zion National Park may be as many as years old according according accord- accord ing ng to Paul R. R Franke Numerous ruins discovered discovered discovered ered there show evidence of prehistoric prehistoric pre- pre historic mans man's existence w wit with i t h each passing new evidence and removing some of the old I The main stream in inthe inthe inthe the canyon the Virgin River was named by Jedediah Strong Smith who probably explored some of the streams in the park while trapping beaver in 1826 In 1858 the canyon was explored d dby by a Mormon scout Nephi Johnson Johnson John John- son The scenic splendor of the canyon canyon canyon can can- yon was first brought to the at attention attention attention at- at of the world by members of the U. U S. S Geographical Survey Major John Wesley Powell and Captain Clarence E. E Dutton who wrote of the beauty of the canyon I |