Zion Archives

Archival boxes on a table in Zion National Park archives.
Archival boxes on table in the Zion National Park archives.

NPS / Jonathan Shafer

The mission of the Zion Archives mirrors that of the National Park Service—to protect and preserve the park’s resources for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations.

The Zion Archives are home to the history of the park, documenting the natural and cultural resource records created by the National Park Service from the early years of Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909 to the present. In addition to history of Zion National Park, the collections also preserve the history of Mormon Pioneers and Indigenous People that inhabited the valley long before, during, and after the European American history of the park. Maps, historic photographs, and oral histories are just a few examples of the records maintained in the archives.

Located in Southwestern Utah, Zion National Park serves as a repository for its National Park Service neighbors: Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Finding aids

Due to an ongoing project to reorganize the Zion Archives, we do not have finding aids for every collection. We will share new finding aids as we move ahead with the reorganization.

Record Group 6 - Environmental Compliance

Record Group 14 - Cultural Resources

Please email us with any collections related questions.

Hours

Email us before you arrive in the park so that we can confirm an archivist is available on the day of your visit. Research visits usually happen Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Access and use policies

Research in the Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, and Zion archival collections are available by appointment only. We will ask you to read and sign forms that explain how to protect park records. If you can, please email us and we will email you the forms before your visit. If you do not fill the forms out before you get here, we will give you paper copies to read and review when you get to the park.

 

Forms you will need to sign to do research

When you arrive at Zion, we will give you forms to read and sign. Read below so that you are prepared to share the information we need.

 
A historic pot filled with corn photographed inside the park museum building.
Zion Human History Museum

Discover virtual exhibits and learn more about visiting the Zion Human History Museum.

Handcolored glass slide of bluebells and columbine flowers from Cedar Breaks National Monument
NPGallery

Explore the museum collections through these digitized materials.

Ebenezer Bryce biographical information on old sheets of paper
Bryce Canyon Collections

Find out more about the museum and archives collections at Bryce Canyon.

Cedar Breaks National Monument Master Plan Cover from the 1930s
Cedar Breaks Collections

Find out more about the museum and archives collections at Cedar Breaks.

A large group of people sits in front of the Zion Nature Center in 1989.
Oral History

Lend an ear to the memories of the past through Zion's oral history collection.

Last updated: August 21, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Blvd.

Springdale, UT 84767

Phone:

435-772-3256
If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. Rangers answer phone calls from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.

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