John C. Fremont portrait. He led his first mapping expedition along the Wasatch Front in May of 1844.
Library of Congress
In 1776, Fray Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Fray Silvestre Velez de Escalante became the first recorded Europeans to enter Utah Valley. These men, both priests, were searching for an overland route between Santa Fe and California. Led by a guide from the Timpanogots tribe, they labeled the Great Salt Lake in their report as “Laguna de los Timpanogos.”
The priests recognized the natural richness of the area. In their journal, they recorded the promising future that this valley would offer for settlements.
In the 1820s, fur trappers began thoroughly exploring the Utah region. The most desirable fur was beaver, which sold for high prices. These trappers interacted with local tribes and some married local women. Beaver became scare in the area by 1830 and trapping moved north.
As more people began to travel through the area, John C. Frémont arrived in Utah. He led the first mapping expedition along the Wasatch Front in May of 1844. The following year, he returned to explore the Provo River, which he referred to as the “Timpanogos River” in his notes.
Fremont's records, as well as those from other trappers and explorers, prepared the way for settlement in Utah Valley.
