In 1908, President Teddy Roosevelt tried to prevent all timber and mining operations in the Grand Canyon, but it took Congress 11 years to officially designate it as a national park. During this time, explorer GE Kincaid took a boat down the Colorado River to see what he could find in the Grand Canyon’s rich minerals.

He stumbled upon something unexpected when he discovered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the walls of a man-made tunnel.

What followed was an extraordinary discovery of an underground city that Kincaid believed could have housed up to 50,000 people. Kincaid explored the complex for several hours, taking detailed notes of the many rooms he discovered, which included granaries, cooking areas, and even a metalworking area.

He also found dozens of mummies in a crypt. Kincaid sent some artifacts and notes to the Smithsonian and requested support to further excavate and explore the ancient underground city.

The Smithsonian agreed and sent Professor S. A. Jordan and a team of about 40 scientists, researchers, and laborers to the site. They discovered that the layout of the cave system was a symmetrical and deliberate design, leading to a central chamber with a large statue that resembled Buddha.

The team named the complex “The Citadel” and believed that the worship represented the ancient people of Tibet. This discovery was an important archaeological find and remains a mystery to this day.