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Set within the immense walls of the Grand Canyon, this scene honors one of the most daring
chapters in Arizona’s history: the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition. Led by Major John
Wesley Powell, this was the first documented journey through the canyon by boat. At its heart is
the virtue Exploratio (Exploration), representing the noble pursuit of discovery in the face of the
unknown.
In the foreground, a striking young woman embodies the spirit of exploration itself. Windswept
and resolute, she rows a rugged wooden craft through swift waters. Her boat is modeled after
the ones used in the expedition: the Emma Dean, Maid of the Canyon, Kitty Clyde’s Sister, and
No Name. Among the fury of the Colorado River, these sturdy vessels carried ten men into
uncharted waters. For nearly three months, the crew endured dangerous rapids, scarce
supplies, and constant uncertainty. They mapped the Green and Colorado Rivers, documenting
a landscape that had remained a blank space on U.S. maps. Their expedition produced the first
detailed records of the Grand Canyon, opening the eyes of the nation to one of Arizona’s
greatest natural wonders.
In the background, Major Powell is shown seated in his boat, his right sleeve pinned at the
shoulder—a reminder of the arm he lost at the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. As a veteran
turned scientist, Powell led his men with a vision for advancing knowledge, geography, and
natural history.
Two California condors wheel high overhead while a bighorn sheep stands watch from a ledge,
embodying the rugged resilience of Arizona’s wildlife. The canyon itself towers with striated cliffs
glowing in golden morning light, while the rapids at Granite Falls churn with whitewater.
This artwork celebrates the enduring spirit of discovery that defines Arizona. The Grand Canyon
stands as both a setting and a symbol, forever tied to the Powell Expedition that first revealed its
majesty to the world.
Etched on the bottom of this note is scripture “Let us not grow weary.” — Galatians 6:9