The Grand Canyon was first discovered by Europeans in 1540. This discovery was made by Don Lopez de Cardenas, part of Francisco Coronado's expedition, guided by stories from Hopi Indians. The canyon was then seen again by two Spanish priests in 1776. The first American explorer to visit the region was James O. Pattie in 1825. The iconic exploration of the Grand Canyon by boat was led by John Wesley Powell in 1869.
