Report on the lands of the arid region of the United States, with a more detailed account of the lands of Utah

Willis Drummond

1808–1879

A 19th-century lawyer and public official, he is remembered in print for work connected to western land policy and surveys of the American arid regions. His name appears alongside John Wesley Powell and other contributors to an influential government report on the lands of the western United States.

Clarence E. (Clarence Edward) Dutton

1841–1912

A soldier-scientist with a gift for vivid prose, he helped shape how Americans saw the Grand Canyon and the geology of the American West. His work on volcanic landscapes, earthquakes, and the idea of isostasy made him one of the standout geologists of the late 19th century.

Grove Karl Gilbert

1843–1918

A pioneering American geologist, he helped shape the modern study of landforms through careful fieldwork in the American West. His work on erosion, lakes, mountain building, and even impact craters left a lasting mark on earth science.

A. H. (Almon Harris) Thompson

1839–1906

Best known as the steady, skilled lieutenant of John Wesley Powell’s western expeditions, this explorer helped map some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. He moved easily between the classroom, the battlefield, and the survey field, earning a reputation for calm competence and precision.