Backgrounder

Contact:
P.O Box 640201
Bryce, UT 84764

The history of Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah and is known for its natural
amphitheaters and rock formations. Bryce Canyon has a rich history that dates back thousands of
years. Many Indian tribes have used the area for seasonal hunting. The Paiute, Fremont and
Anazai people occupied portions of the Colorado Plateau that lays near or on Bryce Canyon for
thousands of years.

In the 1800s many pioneers settled around or within the national park. In 1874 the Bryce family
settled within the area. During their stay they built roads and irrigation systems from the creeks
that ran throughout the canyon. They also named an amphitheater ‘Bryce’s Canyon’ which later
became the name of the national park.

In 1923, Bryce Canyon was established as a national monument in order to preserve its unique
geological features and its scientific importance. A year later the monument changed its name to
Utah National Park when it was transferred over to the National Park Service. Four years later,
the National Park Service changed its name to Bryce Canyon National Park and enlarged it by 35
thousand acres.

Today, Bryce Canyon has millions of visitors a year and holds presentations to teach visitors
about its rich history and preservation efforts. Bryce Canyon has had a huge hand in helping to
preserve many animals. A few of these include the Utah prairie dog and the pronghorn antelope,
both species dramatically decreased in size and have been reintroduced within the national park
in order to protect them. Bryce Canyon also holds annual festivals that give guests a unique
opportunity to learn about the national park’s natural features.

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