What’s up everybody?
Well we have finally settled into our new digs and you know what that means. IT’S ADVENTURE TIME! Thats right, we finally feel like we can get out and start exploring once again. To honor our new found freedom we are starting a new series call the Tour of Utah. In this series we are going to take you to the places that make Utah unique. To kick off this series we are going to the place that started it all. This is the Place Heritage Park.
Over the winter of 1885-86, hostilities towards the LDS people, in the town of Nauvoo Illinois, had reached its breaking point. Thousands of them were forced to flee their homes. Only taking with them what they could carry in a oxcart or wagon. Leaving everything else behind. Ferrying across the mighty Mississippi River would begin their 1300 mile trek across the plains to their final destination, the Salt Lake Valley. With difficult terrain and unpredictable weather, it to them a year and then some. I have driven from Chicago to Salt Lake, which is about the same in milage. It took us two and a half days in a U-haul and that was enough for me. I can imagine how trying it was to do it in a oxcart or walking for that matter.
After they enter the Salt Lake Valley Brigham Young, the President of the LDS Church ant the time, stated “This is the right place. Drive on!”. With these words Utah began to grow and prosper. To honor this, in 1912 a humble white cross was erected to signify the spot. The cross would soon be replaced by a white monolith, which can still be found there today.
The landscape has changed since its humbling beginnings. A new and much grander monument has been built. The new monument towers into the air. It not only depicts the LDS pioneer but Native Americans, fur trappers, Spanish explorers and many others that helped to build and expand the West.
There are plenty of other statures built around the grounds. Each one has its own story telling you about the migration West. There is one that is very near and dear to my heart. Its a statue that is dedicated to people that travelled to Utah by handcarts. This is special to me because my family was part of these handcart companies. My family boarded a ship in England and set sail across the seas. Once they landed in the U.S. they joined up with the Willie - Martin Handcart Company and made their way West. The company suffered many loses on the journey to the Salt Lake Valley but they will be forever remembered by those that gaze upon the statue.
There is still more to see then just the Monument and statues. After paying your entrance fee, you are granted access to the Heritage Park. Once you pass underneath the Eagle Gate, you are teleported back in time when Salt Lake was in its infancy. The Heritage Park is modeled after the Downtown area of Salt Lake City. The building have been moved from their original location and rebuilt at the Park. Not all the building are from the Valley but come from all over the state.
A good portion of building are open for you to explore. I would suggest stopping by the Blacksmith Shop, Deseret News Print Shop or the Dinwoodey Cabinet and Chair shop. Each have friendly people ready to demonstrate their craft. Be sure to ask them question for the are very knowledgable and eager to answer them.
There are plenty of interactive areas in the Park. For some furry friendship, head over to the Petting Corral. Here you can get up close to all kinds of barn yard animals. They have recently had a baby goat named Ghost, since he is all white. He is very curious about his surrounding and what is happening within his pen.
Tucked up in the back of the park is The Treasure House and Native American Village. The Native American Village is composed of two hogan built in the Navajo tradition, a male and a female. They are set upon the red rocks of Southern Utah. Just up aways from the hogans sits a teepee. The teepee is actually a auditorium that visitors can see different demonstrations. The day that we were there, they were doing a show that talked about the different Native Tribes of Utah and some of their traditions. Incase you were wondering there are five Tribes in Utah: Paiute, Shoshone, Goshute, Ute, and Navajo. We had the opportunity to see several dances and the meaning behind them. I found it very interesting and informative. If you have the chance you should check it out.
The Treasure House is a fun little place to play around. It is mostly designed for the little ones but the big kids can have some fun to. Inside the House is a shop with a small mining display. You can purchase a geo and crack it open yourself. Outside is where the fun really is. Underneath the House is a pit where you can dig for gemstones. Unfortunately, there is no rubies or sapphires but it is still fun digging in the dirt trying to find something of interest. If digging in the dirt doesn’t fit your fancy, step over to the river and pan for gold. You are guaranteed to find some Fool’s Gold. Pyrite that is. At least you can learn the techniques that the old miners used to use for panning, so you can go out and search for real gold on your own.
This is the right place. These simple words have become a mantra for so many that have come to live in the state of Utah. With the beautiful mountains in the North to the red rocks in the South, Utah is truly the right place.
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.
Josh
@rowleysadventurediaries
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