Two Latino explorers will be having their own statues in front of the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City. The United States Senate voted unanimously to give tributes to Catholic priests, Father Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante. It only needs the signature of Utah Governor Gary Herbert.

The move of giving the priest explorers is seen as a way to honor not only Catholics but also Latinos. "Utah is home to over 350,000 Latinos. They'll make a connection that the Utah Capitol truly is the people's house for all," Utah House Representative Mark Archuleta Wheatley said.

Democratic Move

Representative Wheatley of the Democratic Party wants the statues erected at the state capitol so that tourists will learn the rich history of Utah. He said, "They are a vital piece of the diverse history of Utah, and more people -- Utahns and tourists -- should know their story."

He also mentioned that the statues will be privately funded and is a "fitting tribute" to Fathers Dominguez and Escalante. "A statue seems like a small token compared to the knowledge and inspiration they gave to generations before us to settle this land," he added said.

Before being passed in the senate, the House of Representatives also voted unanimously last Feb. 16 with a 68-0 result.

The Dominguez-Escalante Expedition

Franciscan priests Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante led a 10-man exploration from Santa Fe, New Mexico in July 1776. The two priests were trying to set up an overland route from New Mexico to Monterrey, California.

However, their six-month journey ended when they headed back to Santa Fe after deciding that they would not reach California because winter was coming. They were able to return home on Jan. 2, 1777. They reached the land that eventually became Colorado and the present Utah town of Jensen on Sept. 11, 1776.

They also traversed the Wasatch Mountains and the Utah Valley using the trail on the Diamond Fork and Spanish Fork canyons. The Spaniards also was able to reach Utah Lake and met with the Timpanogos Utes, a group of Native American Indians.

The priests taught them about Christianity before heading south and locating Iron County, more commonly known in the present time as Escalante Valley. The journal of Father Escalante became the first document in Utah's history along with a map made by Don Bernardo Miera y Pacheco.

The journal documented all the places they reached as well as different plants and animals. The appearance, dress and foods of the Native Americans were also included in the journal.