Spotlight: Salt Lake City - This Is The Place Heritage Park

Spotlight: When the Mormons pioneers traveled to Utah, their leader was Brigham Young. At the time of their exodus, their destination was the Rocky Mountains, but they hadn't decided on the exact location where they would build their Zion. Brigham Young informed the other church leaders that he had seen a vision in which he saw the Mormon people make the desert bloom as a rose. The advance pioneer party arrived in present day Salt Lake county in July, 1847. On the 24th of that month, Brigham Young, who was ill with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, was driven up Emigration Canyon in the back of a wagon. As they crested a hill and looked over the valley, Brigham asked to see the view for himself. After gazing out over the valley, President Young declared, "It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on." With those few words, Salt Lake City became the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, resulting in the arrival of thousands of immigrant believers from around the globe into the Salt Lake Valley. This Is The Place Heritage Park was established to commemorate that event, as well as the other people and events that helped shape the cultural landscape that exists in Utah today.

Location: This Is The Place Heritage Park is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon in East Salt Lake City. The address is 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave.

Time: Open from 10am-5pm daily. Plan on spending 4-6 hours.

Cost: $11 (adults), $8 (seniors & children 3-11), free (children 2 & under); Sundays - $5 (adults), $3 (children & seniors)

Description: This Is The Place Heritage Park helps visitors learn what life was like in Utah Territory during the mid-1800s. A "train" tour starts at Eagle Gate and takes visitors around the village to give them an overview of the village and the various activities that are available. Most workers/volunteers are dressed in period appropriate attire - even on the hottest of summer days. The different buildings highlight typical homes, businesses, and community centers that would be found in the average Utah town. Volunteers and workers perform typical duties that the residents of Utah would have performed in their homes - such as baking bread in a cast iron stove (heated by a wood burning fire) without air conditioning. One of the most popular activities is to tour the Brigham Young Farmhouse and Barn, which displays many authentic items from the Young family home as well as some replicas. On the other end of the spectrum are the row of pioneer cabins, which show the rustic side of life.

Ashby dugout

     The businesses either have displays or workers that teach visitors how different trades were accomplished using nineteenth century materials and tools. Some even have crafts that children and adults can do and take home. Some of the businesses include the: shaving parlor, bank, saddlery, livery stable, blacksmith shop, print shop, furniture store, wheelwright shop, drugstore, cabinet & chair shop, tinsmith shop, boot shop, and telegraph office.

     There are plenty of activities for kids. Some of these include: panning for gold, playing on a replica boat, the mini train ride, pony rides, the petting corral, the Native American Village & dance show, the Children's playground, attending school in the old school house, and playing in the splash pad at the Irrigation Station.

panning for gold

Native American dance show

mini train ride

splash pad at the Irrigation Station

pony rides    

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: -The park stays open until 6 p.m. from June-August. It is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.
- The Visitor's Center opens at 9 am.
- Price of admission includes any combination of 3 additional activities such as: take-home crafts, mini train ride, and pony ride.
- Sundays have reduced admission because most activities and programs aren't available that day.
- Entrance fees are for admission to the village. The Statuary Walkway outside the village is free. It leads from the giant This Is The Place monument, past several other pioneer era monuments, including the Mormon Battalion Monument, and ends at the National Pony Express Monument.
- The current monument was dedicated in 1947. A small, stone obelisk to the east of the current monument marks the place where Brigham Young made his original pronouncement.
- Special events throughout the year include: Huntsman Day (free admission), Mountain Man Camp, Liberty Day (July 4), Pioneer Day (July 24), Witches' Ball, Haunted Village & Little Haunts, Christkindlmarkt, and Candlelight Christmas.
- During the summer and seasonal events, you can buy lunch at the Huntsman Grill. There are also yummy snacks at Brigham's Donuts, the ZCMI store and the Ice Cream Parlor. You can also bring your own snacks into the park.

Ice cream break

- You can schedule special activities such as birthday parties, weddings, receptions, and corporate parties. For more information, call 801-924-7507.
- Occasionally, you can buy some crafts at the various shops - for example, pottery at the pottery shop.

Nearby: Hogle Zoo, Temple Square, Red Butte Garden & Arboretum, Park City