The Must-See Landmarks Of The State Of Utah

The state of Utah has played an important role in the history of the United States. As an area that was passed through by many settlers using the Oregon Trail as their way to the Pacific Northwest and as the ultimate destination of the Mormon pioneers when they relocated from their earlier settlements farther east, Utah’s presence in American history is unique and interesting. There are a number of sites left behind that tell the story of the history made there, and a visit to Utah is a great way for anyone interested in history to get a first hand look at many historical artifacts and sites. When coupling the historical sites that can be seen in the state of Utah with the beautiful natural scenery, it is easy to see why a great many people venture to this western state each and every year.

Emigration Canyon
The name of this beautiful canyon comes from the historical event of the Mormon trek westward. Emigration Canyon is the place where the Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley in the mid-1850s. The canyon can be found east of Salt Lake City and is part of the Wasatch Range. There are a number of historical markers placed throughout the canyon signifying the location of important trails, milestones, events and camps in relation to the trail the early Mormons took as they came to the Salt Lake area.

Fort Douglas
Located three miles east of Salt Lake City and originally called Camp Douglas when it was built in 1862, it was renamed Fort Douglas in 1878 and was an active part of the military until it was closed in 1991. The fort is now owned by the University of Utah and it currently houses a museum that details the history of the fort and the surrounding area. The original purpose of the fort was to protect the mail route and telegraph lines along the Oregon Trail that travels through the area. One extremely interesting period in the fort’s history is that during World War I it was actually used as an internment camp for Germans living in the United States as well as a prison for captured German naval personnel.

Bryce Canyon Lodge
Built only of local materials in the mid-1920s, Bryce Canyon Lodge is one of the more beautiful buildings in the region. The lodge sits inside the boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park and was designed by the famous architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood who designed a number of building for the National Park Service for use in Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and the northern rim of the most famous natural area in the entire United States, the Grand Canyon. A trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, and the lodge that shares its name, is an essential trip for anyone interested in enjoying the outdoors.

Bingham Canyon Mine
The Bingham Canyon Mine, in operation since 1906 and designated a National Historic Landmark in the mid-1960s, is known as the world’s largest man-made excavation. The mine is still in use and owned by the international mining company Rio Tinto. It is located just southwest of Salt Lake City and can be found in the Oquirrh Mountains. The extraction of minerals from Bingham Canyon has been going on since 1850, but it wasn’t until later that it was discovered exactly how much product could be taken from the canyon’s surrounding walls. Some of the many minerals taken from the Bingham Canyon during its mining lifetime include gold, silver and molybdenum. The Bingham Canyon Mine however is known mostly for being copper mine, with only one other mine in the world producing more copper than it during its history.

The Brigham Young Complex
When the Mormon settlement of the Salt Lake Valley occurred, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Brigham Young. The two houses that make up the Brigham Young Complex were this famous church leaders residences during his life in the area from 1852 through 1877. Brigham Young and the work he and the early Mormon pioneers did during their settlement was integral to much of the development of both the Mormon church as well as the entire Utah region.

Alkali Ridge
One of the most famous archaeological sites in the Western United States, Alkali Point is home to a number of sites featuring the earliest examples of Puebloan architecture that have ever been found. The types of developments found in this area include pit type dwellings and farming or agriculturally related sites. Designated a National Histric Landmark in the mid-1960s, the information and artifacts that have come from Alkali Ridge have proven to be quite eye-opening in terms of looking at the earliest of settlers in what has now become the Western United States.

The Topaz War Relocation Center
During World War II, the War Relocation Authority established a number of internment camps that were designed and implemented to house some Americans of Japanese descent as well as immigrants to the United States who had come from Japan. One of those internment camps was the Topaz War Relocation Center, an almost 20,000 acre area located just west of the community of Delta, Utah. At one point, with 9,000 detainees, Topaz was the fifth largest center of population in the state of Utah. After the war, much of the land that made up the Topaz War Relocation Center was dispersed with and used for farming. Many of the foundations and some of the buildings remain, and there is a Topaz Museum located in the community of Delta that is dedicated to preserving the sites as well as the artifacts and information relating to this controversial chapter in American history.

Whether a traveler is interested in the natural scenery of Utah or learning about any number of interesting historical events that have taken place in the area, a visit to this state allows the visitor to experience a wide variety of things from an up close perspective. A vacation to Utah provides for not only the standard attractions like resort hotels, ski resorts, outdoor recreation, but also interesting and important historical sites as well. Few people ever take the time to visit Utah and then leave disappointed, the state has the unique ability to provide something for nearly everyone who comes its way.