Explorers left inscriptions in trees and rocks in case they never returned home. In 1776, the expedition of Dominguez – Escalante passed by Glen Canyon and carved on the rock `paso por aqui, año 1776´, (We passed by here. Year 1776).

The Father Dominguez and Father Escalante were trying to find a direct route between the Spanish missions established in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Monterrey in California. Due to hardships experienced during their journey, they decided to return to Santa Fe before reaching their destination. They wrote a journal and mapped their expedition which became an invaluable resource for future explorers such as Antonio Armijo.

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