Introduction
Preparations began a number of years ago for the celebration of the centennial of Utah statehood-a celebration that will take numerous forms before the state settles into its second hundred years. One of the first decisions was the selection from among the state's many wonders of a remarkable rock structure whose image would adorn the special commemorative automobile license plate. I refer of course to Delicate Arch, which is found in Arches National Park, which in turn is located in Grand County-which is the subject of this book. Among other projects honoring the state at its one hundredth birthday is the one of which the present volume is a part: the publication of histories of all twenty-nine Utah counties. The Utah legislature has seen fit to provide funds for the writing and publishing of these volumes, and its members should be commended for their foresight. Although in one sense we never escape our history-those who do not know it being condemned to repeat its mistakes, the old saying goes-history is in another sense a fragile thing, most easily lost or distorted. Among the things for which future generations will
