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SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, has proposed a new statue for the state Capitol honoring Father Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante.
The two Catholic priests are known for their 1776 expedition to find a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Monterey, California, and convert indigenous people to Christianity, said Gary Topping, archivist for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and former Salt Lake Community College history professor.
"They didn't find their way to Monterey, but they did discover, explore and archive information that allowed many more to follow. They are a vital piece of the diverse history of Utah, and more people — Utahns and tourists — should know their story," Wheatley said in a statement.
The resolution received a unanimous favorable recommendation from the House Political Subdivisions Committee.