Historedia
Person

John Wesley Powell

Events
2
Episodes
3
Years
1869–1879

Every event in Historedia whose sources name John Wesley Powell, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. John Wesley Powell's 1869 Green and Colorado River expedition departs

    1869

    Role: Expedition Leader

    1. 1869-05-24 · Green River Station, Wyoming TerritoryDeparture from Green River Station

      Powell's expedition departed from Green River Station, Wyoming Territory, on May 24, 1869, beginning a river journey of approximately three months.

  2. Founding of the United States Geological Survey

    1879

    Role: Survey leader discontinued by the Organic Act

    1. March 3, 1879 · Seat of CongressCongressional Establishment

      Congress established the USGS as a last-minute amendment to a sundry appropriations bill on March 3, 1879, following a National Academy of Sciences report.

    2. June 30, 1879 · National DomainDiscontinuation of Previous Surveys

      The Organic Act discontinued existing surveys led by Hayden, Powell, and Wheeler on June 30, 1879, consolidating them into the new agency.

Sources

  1. Powell Geographic Expedition of 1869 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-24
  2. John Wesley Powell Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-15
  3. United States Geological Survey Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-27