ZION NATIONAL PARK
Washington County, Utah

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Zion National Park
Springdale, UT 84767-1099
(435)772-3256
http://www.nps.gov/zion

HISTORY

The area now known as Zion National Park was inhabited by the Anasazi from at least 2,000 years ago. The Paiutes inhabited the area starting about 800 years ago. And Mormon settlers arrived in the area in the late 1850s or early 1860s.

Early settlers called the canyon Zion because of the big pillars. Zion is a Hebrew word referring to a place of safety or refuge. The settlers who were sent down by Brigham Young to raise cotton, also knew how to raise tobacco. When Young came down to visit and saw that, he was furious and said, "This is not Zion". Then for a while the place was known as Not Zion. Eventually, a Methodist minister, photographer, and promoter reestablished the name Zion. Kolob, in Mormon theology, is a heavenly place close to God.

The Mukuntuweap National Monument was established in July 31, 1909 when Pres. Taft signed a monument declaration. In 1919, it became Zion National Park, the first national park in Utah and one of the first in the United States.

The Kolob section of Zion was added in 1937, though it was administered by the Superintendent of Brianhead National Monument for a long time. It 1956, it was formally incorporated into Zion National Park.

The original dirt road into Zion National Park took off from Hurricane and went up toward Short Creek (now Hildale and Colorado City) before cutting back through Grafton.

The new road through the park, including the Zion Tunnel, was built between 1927 and 1930. It was dedicated July 4, 1930. All of the 48 state governors, except for New York's, were at a conference in Salt Lake City and came down for the dedication.

LOCATION

The west entrance to the main part of Zion National Park is reached from I-15 by taking Exit 27 (if coming from the north) and Highways 17 and 9 or by taking Exit 16 (if coming from the south) and following Highway 9.
The east entrance to the main part of the park is reached by taking Highway 9 west from Mount Carmel.
The Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park is reached off of Exit 40 of I-15. There is a secondary visitor center just east of the freeway with a paved road leading from there back into the canyons.

Directions to Zion National Park

Map of Zion National Park

Distances in miles from the Zion National Park visitor center:

        2     Springdale
      13     East Entrance
      25     Mt Carmel Jct
      20     La Verkin
      40     Lava Point
      40     Kanab
      42     St George
      45     Kolob Canyons
      60     Cedar City
      86     Bryce Canyon
    120     North Rim Grand Canyon
    120     Page
    158     Las Vegas
    250     South Rim Grand Canyon

STATISTICS

Zion National Park Visitors

    1920 - 3,692
    1930 - 55,297
    1940 - 165,029
    1950 - 320,994
    1960 - 575,814
    1970 - 903,340
    1980 - 1,233,776
    1990 - 2,342,614
    1992 - 2,687,848
    1993 - 2,371,364
    1994 - 2,286,651
    1995 - 2,442,062
    1996 - 2,519,901
    1997 - 2,467,234
    1998 - 2,387,714
    1999 - 2,471,564
    2000 - 2,454,248
    2001 - 2,249,389
    2002 - 2,614,735
    2003 - 2,480,690
    2004 - 2,699,241
    2005 -
    2006 -
    2007 -
    2008 -

REFERENCES

Wikipedia article on Zion National Park

A history of Zion National Park

"A History of Cable Mountain"
Book by Ted Deffendol
Cedar City: Southern Utah University Library Oral History Program, 1971

"A History of Southern Utah and Its National Parks"
Book by Angus M Woodbury
Utah State Historical Society, 1950

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photos on the web:
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park People
Zion National Park People
Zion National Park People
Zion Sawmill
Jim Harlan's Zion Event Photos Collection

REFERENCES

Washington County Chapter, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, " Under Dixie Sun".
1950 with 1978 Supplement.
Pages 346-347.