As America marks its 250th anniversary, the America250 initiative calls us to honor the trailblazers who gave meaning to the wild places we treasure most. At Cottonwood Cove, a proud member of the Adventures Unbound family, we are honoring Women’s History Month by celebrating four women whose lives reflect the full breadth of what it has meant to explore, settle, defend, and serve this sun scorched, awe inspiring corner of the American West.

Courage Across Generations

The Colorado River has always demanded something extraordinary from those who dare to take it on. In 1938, Dr. Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter answered that call, becoming the first documented women to complete a 660 mile river journey from the canyon to Lake Mead. Scientists at heart, they turned the expedition into a botanical record, carefully documenting plant species throughout the inner canyon. They set out to do science and ended up making history.

The story of who first called this desert home is one that Helen Stewart helped write. Among the first non Indigenous women to put down roots in the Las Vegas Valley, Stewart was a foundational presence in a region that was still finding its identity. Her contributions to the area’s early development helped transform a remote desert outpost into a place with genuine community and permanence.

That community was built on land that had been home to Indigenous peoples for generations, and no one gave voice to that truth more powerfully than Sarah Winnemucca. A Northern Paiute advocate and educator, Winnemucca spent her life bearing witness to the upheaval her people endured during westward expansion, ensuring those stories reached audiences who might otherwise never have heard them. Her legacy is one of persistence and clarity in the face of adversity.

Carrying that spirit of service into the present, Christa Johnston serves as Chief of Staff for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, guiding operations and partnerships across Nevada and Arizona. Her leadership represents a continuation of the care and commitment these women modeled across generations.

Come Experience What They Cherished

This Women’s History Month, the waters and desert shores of Cottonwood Cove invite you to reflect on the generations of women who shaped this landscape. We hope you will come and experience that history for yourself. To learn more about how we are honoring the diverse stories that make up America’s heritage, visit America250 at Adventures Unbound and explore further at the National Park Service.