John Wesley Powell was the first person to fully explore and write about the canyons of the Colorado River. On the first of two trips down the Colorado, Powell and his men saw and named many features, including Glen Canyon. Though several people, both before and after Powell, lived, worked, and travelled in Glen Canyon, it remained a place largely unknown to most of the United States. It was still terra incognita in the early 1950's when the Bureau of Reclamation proposed building a dam, one of many proposed for the Colorado River, at Glen Canyon's southern end.

Construction of the dam began in 1956. It was completed in 1963, but the lake did not completely fill until 1980. Lake Powell, which covered most of Glen Canyon, was named after the man who had first written of the canyon's many charms.

Today, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) and Lake Powell serve the needs of a diverse population. The lake provides opportunities for a variety of water-based recreational pursuits. The dam provides water storage for irrigation and produces electricity for millions.