As America marks its 250th anniversary, the America250 initiative calls us to reflect on the remarkable individuals whose stories are etched into the land and water around us. At Temple Bar, a proud member of the Adventures Unbound family, we are honoring Women’s History Month by celebrating four women whose contributions to this region span exploration, settlement, advocacy, and leadership across nearly two centuries.

A Legacy Written in Water and Desert

The waters that lap the shores of Temple Bar were once a finish line for Dr. Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, who in 1938 completed a 660 mile river journey down the Colorado River to Lake Mead. Scientists by training and adventurers by necessity, they catalogued plant species throughout the inner canyon as they went, turning an expedition that many doubted they could complete into a meaningful contribution to botanical science. Their arrival at these waters was historic.

The desert surrounding Lake Mead tells another story of early presence. Helen Stewart was among the first non Indigenous women to make her home in the Las Vegas Valley, arriving at a time when the region was still developing. Her role in the area’s early growth helped establish the human foundation of a landscape that would eventually draw millions of visitors.

Those shores, however, had been home to Indigenous communities long before any settler arrived, and Sarah Winnemucca made sure that truth was not forgotten. A Northern Paiute advocate and educator, she spent her life giving voice to her people’s experiences during westward expansion, speaking and writing with clarity that still resonates today.

Bridging past and present, Christa Johnston serves as Chief of Staff for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, helping guide operations across Nevada and Arizona. Her leadership supports the continued care of the waters and desert terrain these women helped shape.

Discover the Story Behind the Scenery

This Women’s History Month, we invite you to arrive at Temple Bar with a sense of the remarkable women who came before you, by river, by desert road, and through years of dedication. To learn more about how we are celebrating the stories that complete America’s heritage, visit America250 at Adventures Unbound and explore further at the National Park Service.