In 1883, while in search of gold, a prospector named Cass Hite wandered up White Canyon and found three magnificent bridges which water had sculpted from the stone canyon walls. In 1904, National Geographic Magazine publicized the bridges, and in 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt established the Natural Bridges National Monument, creating Utah's first National Park Service area.

Many names have been given to the bridges. They were first named "President," "Senator" and "Congressman" by the original finder Cass Hite, however the bridges were renamed "Augusta," "Caroline" and "Edwin" by later explorer groups. As the park was expanded to protect nearby Puebloan structures, the General Land Office assigned the Hopi names "Sipapu," "Kachina" and "Owachomo" to the bridges in 1909.

SUMMARY - NATURAL BRIDGES

Edge of Cedar State Park, Blanding
Informative displays on the history of the region.
Attraction type: State park

Newspaper Rock Recreation Site, Blanding
A giant rock covered with ancient petroglyphs.
Attraction type: Ancient ruins; Monument

Hovenweep National Monument, Blanding
Six ancient ruins sites set in a beautiful desert landscape.

Attraction type: Monument; Ancient ruins
Blanding, City