Millions of years ago the Great Salt Lake's predecessor, a prehistoric ocean, covered most of Utah's territory. After the ocean had dried up, most of the Native American tribes which had populated its shores left the region. The few Indians that remained in the area were of the Southern Paiute, Gosiute, and Ute tribes. In addition to these three tribes who lived in Utah, many Shoshoni tribes, who came from Idaho and Wyoming, spent time in the northern Utah.
In 1776, two Franciscan priests, Father Silvestre Valez de Escalante and Father Francisco Atanasio Dominguez, left Santa Fe, New Mexico to search for a more direct route to California. Subsequently, the priest were responsible for the first exploration of the territory which is now Utah. Although the Spanish did not make formal efforts to colonize the area, they did begin trading expeditions which resulted in the evolution of the popular route known as "the Old Spanish Trail." By 1840, the Oregon Trail paved the way into Utah for many settlers, especially Mormons. After Mormon founding-father, Joseph Smith, was lynched at Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, the Mormons were chased out of the region. The new leader of their Church, Brigham Young, led the Mormons west, and in the summer of 1847, they entered the valley between the Wasatch River and Great Salt Lake and made the first permanent settlement in Utah. They soon turned desert into farmland, and Utah communities began to grow. Laws were informal amongst the Mormons who generally governed themselves according to the moral codes and social ideals espoused by the Church.
After the Mexican-American War and the signing of the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848, Mexico ceded Utah to the United States. Between gold-diggers and Mormons, Utah's population began to grow rapidly that year. Young was named Governor of Utah, and in 1849 the Mormons petitioned for statehood. Congress denied them entrance into the Union mainly because of the Mormon culture, particularly because of their practice of polygamy, and because they would only deal with one another in matters of business. Instead of granting Utah statehood, Congress created the Territory of Utah in 1849.
The Mormons faced many obstacles in their early years in Utah, including cricket raids, frosts on their crops, and, most notably, antagonism from the federal government. During the "Mormon War of 1858," which was actually no more than a bloodless feud, President James Buchanan sent 2,500 federal troops to the territory and tried to replace Brigham Young with Alfred Cumming as governor. Refusing to fight the troops, the Mormons simply abandoned Salt Lake City. Approximately 30,000 Mormons left their settlements and headed for Provo, leaving behind a useless battalion and a dismayed Cumming. Only when they were assured that their land was left untouched did the Mormons return to the City. President Buchanan pardoned the Mormons for their "rebellion," and proceeded to install Cumming as the new governor, although the Mormons followed only their leader, Young. The federal troops remained in Utah until the outbreak of the Civil War, and it was not until the Mormon leader renounced the institution of polygamy in 1890 that the country's antagonism dwindled. In 1896, Utah became a the 45th state.
The only people who did not harass the Mormons during their early years in Salt Lake City were the Native Americans. The Mormons believed it was cheaper and easier to feed the Indians than to fight them, and the Indians had every intention of settling peaceably with their new white neighbors. Relations between the two remained harmonious for years, but the Native Americans could only adapt to the new living conditions so much, and when their good land was being settled by more and more Mormons, they were reduced to either beggary or theft. Today the Mormons adopt nearly 4,000 Indian children into their homes each year during the school session and feel a strong regard for the Native Americans, as well as a deep regret for their unfortunate past.
In 1869, Irish and Chinese immigrants built much of the transcontinental railroad, and the golden spike which marked the connection of the east and west rail lines, was driven at Promontory point, Utah. The area's population grew considerably after the completion of the railroad, and Utah's cities began to grow industrially. Soon mining became the major source of income for the area, despite the fact that the Mormon Church actively opposed mining. Non-Mormon foreign immigrants made extensive finds in copper, coal, salt, uranium, and other natural resources.
With the dawn of the Great Depression, most coal mining operations ceased to be profitable, and many other industries in the state experienced serious problems as well. Agriculture was especially hurt by severe droughts in the state in 1931 and 1934. During and after World War II however, military installations and war-related industries revived Utah's economy. Utah's government has long been at the forefront of enviromental protection legislation, and its efforts have not been in vain for today the region maintains a wealth of natural beauty which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Visiting the State
Bonneville Salt Flats' experimental vehicles set world-land-speed record.
Edge of Cedars Indian Cultural Museum, in Blanding.
The ghost towns of Silver Reef, Scofield, and Grafton.
Gunlock Reservoir, in the rugged ravine of the Santa Clara River in Gunlock, offers boating, fishing, water skiing, and picnicking.
Hurricane Pioneer Heritage Park, on the edge of the Colorado Plateau, in Hurricane, celebrates the Washington County Fair ever August.
Hurricane Sand Dunes, between St. George and Hurricane.
Joshua tree forest, along the Beaver Dam Slope.
Six national parks include: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Great Basin National Park, Arches National Park, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Other natural sites include: Golden Spike, the Four Corners, Canyonlands, Snow Canyon, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, The Anasazi Village State Park, and Dinosaur Park. The named sites offer unprecedented beauty as well as much recreation in way of rock climbing, hiking, fishing, camping, rafting, and site-seeing.
Provo: Brigham Young University; the Maeser Memorial Building; and the Museum of Peoples and Cultures.
Red Cliffs Campground, a red rock paradise, is located at the foot of Pine Valley Mountain, just south of Leeds.
Salt Lake City: "This is the Place" Monument; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir building; the Temple and Temple Square; Lion House; the State Capitol; Utah State Historical Society Library; Old Salt Palace; Hogle Garden Zoo; and Seagull Monument.
The St. George Temple is the oldest Mormon temple in use today.
Snow skiing and other winter activities at Brian Head and Elk Meadows Ski Resorts.
Famous Utes
William Dudley "Big Bill" Haywood (1869-1928) Radical Industrial Workers of the World organizer. Born Salt Lake City, Utah.
Gustave O. Larson, author of The "Americanization" of Utah for Statehood (1971), a book about the Mormon v. Non-Mormon conflict.
Joseph Bracken Lee (born 1899) One of the most colorful politician in Utah's history; governor from 1949 to 1957; mayor of Salt Lake City from 1960 to
1972.
Donny and Marie Osmond Famous Mormon brother-sister television singing team.
Harold Ross (1892-1951) Founder of the New Yorker Magazine. Started his career as a reporter for the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Wakara (Walker) (1808-1855) Foremost Ute Indian leader of the Mid-Ninteenth century.
Brigham Young (b. VT, 1801-1877) Mormon religious leader who, after the death of Joseph Smith, became head of the Mormon Church and effective ruler of Utah, from 1844 until his death.
Fascinating Fact
Kolob Arch, in Zion National Park's Kolob Canyon, is the largest free-standing natural arch in the world; it is made of Navajo sandstone.
Utah adopted a state flag in 1911 and modified it in 1913. On a blue background is featured a beehive for industry, the American eagle and flags for loyalty to the nation, and the state flower, the sego lily, which saved early settlers from starvation.
