Zion National Park History

Zion National Park has an amazing history that dates back thousands of years. Recent times have seen a privileged few, Native Indians and pioneering settlers being the only ones who new the park until 1908. Nowadays, many tourists visit the park, learning more than they expected about this incredible place.

Zion National Park, nothing more than an isolated place for many years, has a history steeped in legend and pioneering challenges. In recent years, since the park was established, the area has grown, and many visitors are fascinated, but not surprised by the great struggles that the area posed to its former inhabitants.

The incredible canyon was first occupied by native peoples for thousands of years, and then Mormon settlers began to flood the area. However, up until 1908, very few people knew the region, nor dared to even live in its harsh environment.

In 1909, the area was given national monument privileges, an area then known as Mukuntuweap, but it only attracted less then a thousand visitors each year. This was because of transportation problems. The nearest railway station was quite a distance away, and the majority of the roads were nothing more than dirt tracks. However, as word spread about the park's beauty, the National Park Service was created to begin developing access and other facilities.

The monument took on its current name in 1918. Eleven years later, with the foresight of the service's director, tour companies and journalists descended on the park to give it the promotion it rightfully deserved. The first tour was established, and visitors could not only take in the park, but the surrounding ones and even the canyons.

Real progress came when the Union Pacific Railroad began its expansion into southern Utah. Tracks were taken from Cedar City to the park and a railway station was built. After this, new additions were quickly added to the park's amenities – lodge, cabins and other buildings. However, the lodge had to be rebuilt due to a fire. There was nothing that could hold the park back, and as is seen today, many thousands of people visit the park every summer.