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THE GRAND CANYON MYSTERY: EGYPT IN ARIZONA?


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A Real 1909 Report That Still Sparks Debate


In April 1909, the Arizona Gazette published a stunning front-page story titled:


"Explorations in Grand Canyon: Remarkable Finds Indicate Ancient People Migrated from the Orient."

The article described an expedition, allegedly funded by the Smithsonian Institution, which uncovered a vast underground complex filled with Egyptian-style relics, mummies, and hieroglyphs—all buried deep in the Grand Canyon’s isolated caverns.


Over a century later, the mystery remains unsolved. Was it a hoax? A misprint? Or something more deliberately covered up?


THE DISCOVERY


The article claimed that an explorer named G.E. Kinkaid, with backing from the Smithsonian, had found a cave system inside a sheer cliff wall along the Colorado River. According to Kinkaid’s story, the cave was massive, with long passageways, a main chamber housing cross-legged mummies, and artifacts that resembled ancient Egyptian and Tibetan designs.


Some key claims from the article:


  • Stone tablets with hieroglyphic characters

  • Weapons made of copper

  • Statues resembling Egyptian deities

  • An underground burial crypt with hundreds of mummies


Kinkaid allegedly traveled over 40 miles downriver before reaching a settlement and telegraphing the discovery.


THE SMITHSONIAN DENIAL


Soon after the article's publication, readers began writing to the Smithsonian requesting confirmation. Their official response was—and remains—that no such expedition ever occurred, and they have no record of a G.E. Kinkaid or a related project.

To this day, no cave matching Kinkaid’s description has been found, nor has any official evidence surfaced to support the story.


This has fueled decades of conspiracy theories, including claims of:


  • Government suppression of pre-Columbian history

  • Lost civilizations in North America

  • Ancient transoceanic contact


THE LOCATION THAT CAN’T BE FOUND


Interestingly, the Gazette story mentions that the cave was located in an area off-limits to the public today—within a restricted zone of the Grand Canyon known as the “Haunted Canyon” or the Tuweep Wilderness.


In fact, certain parts of the Grand Canyon are labeled with names like:


  • Tower of Set

  • Osiris Temple

  • Isis Temple


These names were given by 19th-century explorers due to the dramatic formations and their resemblance to Egyptian architecture—but they’ve only added to the mystery.


SO, WHAT’S THE TRUTH?


There are three main theories about the 1909 article:


  1. A Newspaper Hoax or Sensationalized Story

    1. Common in early 20th-century journalism. Newspapers often published tall tales to boost sales.

  2. A Misreported Archaeological Site

    1. Possibly a cave or ruin misidentified by Kinkaid or exaggerated in retelling.

  3. A Real Discovery Suppressed by Institutions

    1. This is the belief held by many alternative historians and researchers who argue that the Smithsonian and other bodies erased evidence of ancient contact.


918 STATUS: STILL OPEN


While no physical proof has emerged, the 1909 article is very real—and continues to stir debate among historians, conspiracy theorists, and curious minds alike.


We’re not saying there’s an Egyptian tomb in the Grand Canyon. But we are saying someone claimed there was—and no one’s been able to prove otherwise.



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