In 1869, John Wesley Powell led the first scientific exploration of the Colorado River. The geologic expedition and Powell's influence would help create the United States Geological Survey and the Bureau of American Ethnology. To commemorate the expedition, materials from the Utah State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives and the Government Information Collection were displayed in the Merrill-Cazier Library and the Grand County Public Library. Panels describing these historic events were displayed in the Merrill-Cazier Library and at seminars in Moab throughout Summer 2019.