Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Recreation; San Rafael River; River Running; Nielson, James; Nielson, Craig; Funk, Bruce
James Nielson and his brother Craig began running the river in 1964 on a homemade raft. The next year they built a canoe out of fiberglass. Craig Nielson is pictured here with Bruce Funk, a brother-in-law, on their river trip in 1965.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Recreation; School Teacher; Automobile
Mr. Hair was the ninth grade teacher in 1923. Sammy Rowley wrote, "We all adored him. This was a classy car!" He took his class to the desert (San Rafael Swell) for a Spring field trip.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Recreation; Swasey Family; Eastering; Swinging Bridge
Swasey Kids on the Swinging Bridge on Easter Sunday. The tradition of spending Easter weekend on the San Rafael Swell began in the early 1900s for residents of Emery and Carbon County. The Swasey family spent a lot of time on the Swell. Their...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Rededication of Bridge; Swinging Bridge
In 1991 the bridge had been repaired and was rededicated. This old, restored car represented the automobiles that first traveled across the bridge in 1937. It was the last vehicle to travel across the bridge. it was then closed to automobiles and...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Rock Formations; Arches; Eagle Canyon Arch; Beer Stien Arch
Erosion in the San Rafael Swell has left many interestingly shaped rock formations, many of which look like common items used in life. This, for instance, resembles a beer stien and is called Beer Stien Arch, but officially named Eagle Canyon Arch
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Rock Formations; Jack's Knob; USGS; Geology; Baker, A.A.
United States Geographical Survey photographer A.A. Baker took this photograph in 1931.The San Rafael Swell was the last area of the United States to be surveyed because it was so rough and remote. This collection of United States Geological Survey...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Rockwork; Civilian Conservation Corps; CCC
Rock Dam built by the CCC boys in the 1930s. They had professional people as their supervisors and followed directions very well. The rockwork is still a work of art.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael Bridge Dedication; Civilian Conservation Corps; San Rafael River; Swinging Bridge; CCC
In 1937 the San Rafael Swinging Bridge was opened to the public after a formal dedication. There was a huge turnout for the occassion. Cattlemen and sheepmen furnished barbecued beef and mutton. A band played and three young men from the CCC...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael Bridge Dedication; Swinging Bridge; Davis Family; Saw Mills
The Davis family owned the Davis Sawmill in Reeder's Canyon in Joe's Valley which had the government contract to provide the lumber for building the San Rafael Bridge. The family is pictured here during the dedication of the Bridge. Elias Henry...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael Bridge; Swinging Bridge
In 1994 a new bridge was completed across the San Rafael River, and the old Swinging Bridge was repaired and rededicated as a foot bridge. This is an aerial view of the river area in Buckhorn Draw.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael Reef; Interstate 70; Survey Crew; Spotted Wolf Canyon
In 1957 when Eisenhower's Defense highway System was being built to connect the whole nation, only one route was designed from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado. In the 60s another highway was suggested as a second route that would take the...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael Reef; Spotted Wolf Canyon; Interstate 70; Freeways
When the Spotted Wolf route for the Interste 70 was chosen, there was a great deal of blasting and cutting to make a way for a road through the imposing rock border on the east side of the San Rafael Swell. It was completed and opened to the public...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael River; San Rafael Bridge; Livestock; Sheep
The San Rafael Swinging Bridge was built by the CCCs in1937. It was constructed under the direction of the Division of Grazing. It benefitted local ranchers by providing safe and convenient access to thousands of acres of winter grazing for their...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael River; San Rafael Bridge; Swinging Bridge
The Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge built by the CCCs in 1937, was worn out by 1990 and a new bridge was built to handle automobile traffic. The old bridge was repaired and rededicated and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; San Rafael River; San Rafael River; Rededication of Bridge
When the new bridge was dedicated, the old Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge built by the CCCs in 1937 was repaired and rededicated. Even school children attended. The "Swinging Bridge" is a very popular site on the San Rafael Swell.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; School Field Trips; Rowley, Sammy; Stevens, Vonda; Stevens, Melva; Steicklman, Babe
Emery County schools often took the students on field trips to the San Rafael Swell or near by Cedar Mountain. These 14 year old girls are part of the ninth grade field trip to the desert in 1923.
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Seely, Montell; Swasey Family; Sid's Leap
Montell Seely and his daughter Fawn are examining Sid's Leap.The San Rafael Swell is filled with legends of the Swasey Brothers, Charley, Sid, Rod and Joe, who were early ranchers on the Swell. Royal Swasey, son of Joe, tells the story, "One day...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Sid and Charley; Geology; Swasey Family
The Swasey Boys settled on the San Rafael Swell in the 1870s. They named most of the geologic formations on the Swell. This one is dubbed Sid and Charley--two of the Swasey brothers. Sid is the slender one and Charley the more stout. As geologic...