October AR Challenge: Historical Utah Stories
About 12,000 years ago, early hunters lived in Utah. Later, the Fremont people grew corn and built homes in pits. In the southern high desert, Ancestral Puebloans made cliff houses. By the 1700s, the Utes, Paiutes, Goshutes, Shoshones, and Navajos settled, hunted, gathered and traded across the land.
A path became the Spanish Trail
The first Europeans arrived in 1776. Two Spanish priests, Dominguez and Escalante, looked for a path from Santa Fe to California and drew maps. In the 1820s, fur trappers like Jim Bridger explored, establishing the many rivers, lakes and trails. Utah has 1,000+ fishable lakes, numerous reservoirs and other bodies of water.
And this shall be called Deseret
The big change came in 1847. Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, left trouble in Illinois for practicing polygamy. Around 70,000 people walked or rode wagons to the Salt Lake Valley. On July 24, Young said, “This is the place.” They dug canals, planted farms, and built homes. That celebration is now called Pioneer Day.
They only wished to pass through
The Mountain Meadows Massacre (Sept. 7–11, 1857) in southern Utah involved the 'Mormon Militia' and Paiute allies murdering 103 (out of 120), Arkansas emigrants bound for California. Brigham Young gave the order, they were tricked into surrendering, only 17 young children survived. John D. Lee was executed in 1877.
Showcasing globally, boosted infrastructure
Utah finally joined as the 45th state in 1896, after ending polygamy. Women could vote here in 1870, the second state in the country. The 1900s brought much growth. Military bases created jobs. In the 1950s, people mined uranium. The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City put Utah on the world stage, attracting more people.
WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TODAY:
The greatest snow on earth
Job markets are strong. Tech companies hire for software and startups. A healthy overall economy, low unemployment attract outsiders in. Homes cost less than on the coasts but are still out of reach for the majority of first-time homebuyers. People love skiing, biking, hiking, boating on the Great Salt Lake, and clean mountain air.
A veritable outdoor playground
In Southern Utah, winters are mild and nature plays a starring role. The "Mighty Five" national parks, Zion's red cliffs, Bryce Canyon's hoodoos, Arches' delicate spans, Canyonlands' vast canyons, and Capitol Reef's waterpocket folds, offer hiking, climbing, and stargazing in dark skies. Yearly athletic events is a huge draw.
Religion continues to rule the state
Culture mixes old with new, the Mormon Church is still prominent, many decisions come from church leaders, which means little separation of church and state. There are 31 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, with 22 operating, 2 being renovated, 7 under construction.
In short, Utah’s pioneer spirit lives on and endures amid stunning landscapes and opportunity, pulling in adventurers, families plus entrepreneurs. With 3.4 million people living in the state, nature inspires everyone to get in the great outdoors and move. Over 20 million tourists come to visit each year.
If ever in the sunny part of the state, southern Utah, stop and say hello!
Thanks for hosting Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 and Debe Maxwell, CRS! This is an entry to: ActiveRain October Challenge: Historical Stories About Your Location
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