Replies

I’ve driven past Negro Bill many times when heading down to Moab. Grandstaff sounds too bland, IMO. Everything has to be sanitized and without character. :(

From Wiki:

Negro Bill Canyon (called Nigger Bill Canyon from the late 19th century until the 1960s) is a canyon in southeast Utah. It is part of the Colorado River watershed. Its stream flows directly into the main channel of the Colorado River within Moab Canyon.

"The Canyon was named after William Granstaff, an American cowboy of mixed race. He claimed it in 1877 to prospect for valuable ores and to serve as a homestead as he raised a modest herd of cattle. His business partner was a Canadian trapper known only as -- Frenchie. Mr. Granstaff was forced to flee the Moab area in 1881 when he was accused of a serious crime -- that of providing bootlegged alcohol to Native Americans in the region. His guilt or innocence in the matter was never determined. Nevertheless, Mr. Granstaff lost his home and virtually all of his belongings due to the accusation. But worst of all -- he lost his beautiful Canyon. In post-Civil War America, Mr. Granstaff 's conclusion that his racial heritage would place him at a significant legal disadvantage was not unreasonable in the least. Thus, he left Moab."

http://www.negrobillcanyon.com/the-story-of-negro-bill.html

I’ve driven past Negro Bill many times when heading down to Moab. Grandstaff sounds too bland, IMO. Everything has to be sanitized and without character. :(

The NAACP agrees with you. According to Fox 13:

Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake City Chapter of the NAACP, issued a statement Thursday saying they are disappointed with the change and that they hope steps will be taken to preserve the history of the canyon and the man it was named for.

“The NAACP received word this morning that the US Board of Geographic Names changed the name of Negro bill canyon to grand staff canyon. Of course, we are disappointed, because our intent is to let people know that Negro is not an offensive word like some people were saying. What the NAACP want to make sure is that the history of the Negro bill canyon is not lost. The NAACP would like to make sure that literature is provided to visitors that come into the canyon area, as well as the state of Utah about the history of Negro bill canyon.”