Near Coalville in Summit County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Road to Zion
In 1847, Brigham Young led an advance party of 143 men, 2 women, and 3 children along the Platte River. At Fort Bridger, Wyoming they departed from the Oregon Trail to head southwest to the Great Salt Lake. Thousands of other Mormons soon followed. Today, a marked 1,624-mile auto tour route closely parallels their historic trek.
(Upper Drawing Caption)
During their exodus of 1846-47 (below), Mormon pioneers set up several communities and ferry crossings along the trail to assist later emigrants going to and from their new home in Utah.
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From 1856-60, most Mormon converts coming from Europe traveled by rail to Iowa City, Iowa, then walked more than 1,200 miles to Salt Lake City pushing and pulling handcarts (left) loaded with 500 pounds of supplies. After 1860, the Mormon church sent oxen-drawn wagon trains from Salt Lake City to bring emigrants west to the "New Zion."
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Diary pages (below) by Mormon emigrant Appleton Harmon relate his experiences near Chimney Rock and Scotts bluff in 1847. Many Mormons kept diaries relating their ordeals and adventures.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Mormon Pioneer Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1846.
Location. 40° 59.384′ N, 111° 24.16′ W. Marker is near Coalville, Utah, in Summit County. Marker can be reached from Interstate 80 at milepost 171, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at the Echo Canyon East Rest Area approx. two miles east of the I-84 / I-80 Junction and I-80 Exit 169. Marker can only be accessed from the eastbound lanes of the freeway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coalville UT 84017, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Echo Canyon (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Echo Canyon (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Founding of Coalville City (approx. 5.1 miles away); Old Rock School House (approx. 5.2 miles away); "Mormon" Pioneer Trail (approx. 5.4 miles away); Old Fort and Hoyt Grist Mill (approx. 8.1 miles away); Wanship Station (approx. 11.9 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is an interpretive sign of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 875 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.