Brigham Young Home Marker

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Saint George in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Brigham Young Home

By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

1. Brigham Young Home Marker

Inscription. Brigham Young was prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 30 years. During those three decades he directed the establishment of more than three hundred communities throughout the American West. It was "Brother Brigham" as he was affectionately known, who sent the original company of settlers to St. George in 1861 to help establish the "Cotton Mission." His plan was to make the Latter-day Saints more self-sufficient by establishing communities in the south where cotton, grapes and other crops could be produced.

The settlers struggled desperately during the early years when they attempted to grow crops in alkali soil with less than 8 inches of annual rainfall. It was Brigham's custom to visit the settlements once a year to preach and to uplift the Saints. During his visits to St. George he laid plans for the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, which became public work projects that helped to tide the settlers over during a period of dire poverty.

Brigham decided early on to establish a winter home in St. George. But first a telegraph line from Salt Lake City would have to be built so that he could communicate with Church head-quarters and conduct business from Dixie. In 1871, he purchased a home one block north and one block west of here. The back portion of the house was

By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

2. Brigham Young Home Marker

already standing. It had been built by James Chesney in 1869. Brigham retained the original home and added the spacious two-story front section in 1873.

At the age of 69, Brigham began spending winters in St. George, living in the home three to five months of the year until his death in 1877. This trend of wintering in Dixie is one which northerners have enjoyed ever since. He came here to take advantage of the mild winters, to nurse his rheumatism, and to free himself from the pressure of his duties as the Church president. The home now belongs to the LDS Church and has been refurnished as one of its historical landmarks. It stands as a symbol of the pioneers' success in creating a prosperous and civilized life in a desolate and isolated place.

Erected by the Cotton Mission Chapter, Sons of Utah Pioneers with generous support of the Erastus Snow descendants.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Sons of Utah Pioneers marker series.

Location. 37° 6.58′ N, 113° 34.986′ W. Marker is in Saint George, Utah, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street and St. George Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. Click for map. Marker is on the southeast corner. Marker is in this post office area: Saint George UT 84770, United States of America.

Other nearby markers.

Brigham Young Home Photo, Click for full size

By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

3. Brigham Young Home

The winter home of Brigham Young is a few blocks away, from this marker, at 67 West 200 North.

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); St. George Social Hall “Opera House” (a few steps from this marker); Gardeners’ Club Hall (a few steps from this marker); And the Desert Shall Blossom (within shouting distance of this marker); Erastus Snow's Big House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Woodward School (within shouting distance of this marker); Dixie Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); St. George Temple (within shouting distance of this marker).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Credits. This page originally submitted on September 6, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 80 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.