Cedar City in Iron County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Deseret Iron Works
Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007
1. Deseret Iron Works Marker
This monument marks the spot where on Sept. 30, 1852 the first iron was manufactured west of the Mississippi River by the Mormon Iron Missionaries sent by Brigham Young.
This 5½ ton ore body was obtained from the iron deposits used by iron workers located about seven miles west of Cedar City in the Three Peaks area; it is about 16% Fe. The smaller specimens are some that were actually hauled by horse-drawn vehicles to this site and were found during excavation. The blast furnace, foundry, pattern shop, coke and charcoal ovens, water wheel and office of the early Pioneer Iron Works were located north, south, and east of this monument.
The technology of using coke was brought by these early iron workers directly from England where the use of charcoal had been outlawed and which was a relatively new idea, especially in American iron manufacturing. In spike of floods which inundated the iron works, the undependable water source and other natural and man made difficulties, considerable iron was produced here until 1858 making the Iron Industry one of the leading factors in the economy of the Utah Territory.
Erected 1978 by Utah State Historical Society.
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 37° 41.065′ N, 113° 3.601′ W. Marker is in Cedar City, Utah, in Iron County. Marker is at the intersection of N 100 East and 400 North, on the left when traveling south on N 100 East. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 N 100 East, Cedar City UT 84720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Iron Works Blast Furnace (here, next to this marker); Cedar City Railroad Depot (approx. ¼ mile away); Escalante Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); Heroine of China (approx. ¼ mile away); The Hay Derrick (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar City.
Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007
2. Close-up of artist rendering of iron works.
Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007
3. Site of marker
Photographed By Daniel D Weaver, May 6, 2023
4. Deseret Iron Works Marker
Photographed By Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007
5. Iron works site
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
6. Honoring the Pioneer Iron Mongers
Located approximately .2 mile south is the Memorial honoring the Pioneer Iron Mongers.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
7. Honoring the Pioneer Iron Mongers Memorial
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
8. Honoring the Pioneer Iron Mongers Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,879 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 24, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 7, 2023, by Daniel D Weaver of Cedar City, Utah. 5. submitted on June 24, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 16, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
