John Wesley Powell

John Wesley Powell was a geologist, U.S. Army officer, and explorer of the American West. He is best known for his 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers, which included the first known passage through the Grand Canyon. Powell was also a pioneer in the development of the field of anthropology in the United States and an advocate for sustainable water management in the arid West.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Exploration of the Colorado River

    This book is a firsthand account of the first U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon. The author, a one-armed Civil War veteran, and his team of nine men risked their lives to accomplish this feat in 1869. They faced dangerous rapids, food shortages, and potential attacks from Native American tribes. The narrative provides detailed descriptions of the geography, geology, and Native American inhabitants of the region, offering invaluable insights into the uncharted territory of the American West.