Early San Juan County

San Juan County was established in 1880 following the famous winter trek and steep descent through the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail to Bluff, Utah. Behind the settlement of this community by the San Juan River is a story of tenacity, determination, and hardship. The Hole-in-the-Rock was a sandstone crevice discovered fortuitously by pioneers when a wild ram escaped its pursuers and descended to the river by that route. After blasting, building up the grade, and lowering by ropes, the wagon train finally emerged through the crevice to the river below and finished the last difficult miles into Bluff. Miner and photographer Charles Goodman documented the early days of San Juan County, from the production of bricks and molasses to the establishment of Bluff Oil Company, and many of his unique images, dating from 1892 to 1913, are included in this volume.