Zion National Park

On July 31, 1909, Pres. William Howard Taft authorized the creation of Mukuntuweap National Monument in southern Utah. Encompassing miles of rugged mountain peaks towering above the Virgin River, the national monument was renamed Zion and designated as a national park in 1919. The area, originally inhabited by Native Americans, was settled by Mormon pioneers in the early 1860s. As the beauty of the region gained national fame, roads were constructed, tourist accommodations were established,...