What is the history of Zion National Park, and how did it come to be a protected area?

Zion National Park was established in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Howard Taft. The area was originally home to the Southern Paiute, who had been living in the region for centuries. In 1919, it was renamed Zion National Park, and it has been a protected area ever since.