Ebenezer Bryce: Bryce Canyon National Park’s Namesake

“It’s a helluva place to lose a cow.” —Ebenezer Bryce

The towering hoodoos of Bryce Canyon have long inspired and awed those lucky enough to catch a glimpse. Now for the first time comes the story of the park’s namesake, the rugged pioneer Ebenezer Bryce. Complete with original family photos, gorgeous shots of Bryce Canyon National Park, and never-before-heard stories of early American homesteaders, this charming history reveals how an extraordinary canyon received its present-day name.

Through family lore and historical research Herb Bryce, a direct descendant of Ebenezer, shares the captivating story of how the Bryce family name came to adorn one of America’s most beautiful parks. Follow Ebenezer from his humble beginnings in Scotland to his journey across the United States and eventual settlement with his wife and children in a desert of exceptional beauty—a destination that is now visited by more than 2 million people per year.