Some places pull you in because of their beauty; others grab your heart because of the sheer magnitude of the story they hold. Mountain Meadows, Utah is one of those places.
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What and Where is Mountain Meadows?
Mountain Meadows may not not be one of the most stunning of settings in Utah – one of dozens of sparse, open fields in the southwest dotted with sagebrush and juniper trees – but its story is gripping.
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Road Trip Through Southern Utah
We’re suckers for any roadside stop that lets us get out of the car and stretch our legs on longer road trips to a hiking or paddling destination.
Cutting westward from St. George, Utah on our way to King’s Canyon, California, we saw the signs indicating an interpretive trail and couldn’t resist. A short path led uphill from the Mountain Meadows parking lot to an historic monument. Grabbing a quick veggie sandwich, we’re up the trail – and almost losing our lunch.
Wagons Ho!
In 1857, a wagon train travelling from Arkansas to California on the Old Spanish Trail was attacked and laid siege by a party of Mormon militia and Native Americans. Fifteen of the emigrants were killed over the course of the next five days. On September 11th, the emigrants were convinced to give up their stronghold in return for safe passage to Cedar City, Utah.
If you enjoy discovering historic sites focused on pioneering life,
you might also enjoy these posts:
- Exploring Yosemite & Its Pioneer Past
- Pipe Spring National Monument
- A Family Ranch in Dinosaur National Monument
A Tragic End
It was a ruse. Less than a mile away, guns were pulled and 14 men, 12 women, and 35 emigrant children were killed. An additional 35 unidentified people lost their lives as well as nine cattle drivers. Once the massacre was over, 17 children under the age of seven remained alive. They were eventually returned to Arkansas. Sometimes history isn’t pretty, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.
“Only he that has travelled knows where the holes are deep.”
– Chinese Proverb
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