1776 was a turning point in Utah history. But maybe not for the reasons you think.

While George Washington led a revolution in the colonies, Indigenous Americans helped missionaries navigate through what Utahns now call Spanish Fork Canyon.

(Abigail Landwehr | The Salt Lake Tribune) A depiction of The Domínguez–Escalante Expedition, featuring two Spanish friars, Atanasio Domínguez and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, is displayed on the ceiling of the Utah Capitol on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

1776 was a turning point in Utah history. But maybe not for the reasons you think.

While George Washington led a revolution in the colonies, Indigenous Americans helped missionaries navigate through what Utahns now call Spanish Fork Canyon.

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