| John Hance | |
|---|---|
| Died | January 26, 1919 |
| Occupation | pioneer, trailblazer, guide |
John Hance (1840 – January 26, 1919) is thought to be the first non-Native American resident of the Grand Canyon. He opened the first tourist trail in the Canyon in the late nineteenth century.[1][2] He started giving tours of the canyon after his attempts at mining asbestos failed, largely due to the expense of removing the asbestos from the canyon. "Captain" John Hance was said to be one of the Grand Canyon's most colorful characters and it had been declared by one early visitor that "To see the canyon only and not to see Captain John Hance, is to miss half the show"