Parowan in Iron County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Southern Expedition, 1849-1850

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007

1. Southern Expedition, 1849-1850 Marker

Inscription. In 1849, the Southern Expedition led by Parley P. Pratt, left Salt Lake City with instructions from Mormon President Brigham Young to search for colonization sites and iron ore deposits. Pratt, a Mormon explorer, led 50 men on an extensive exploration of southern Utah. The exploration concluded on this spot in 1850, with a feast and celebration. During the celebration, Pratt designated the Parowan Valley as the site from which future colonization of southern Utah would be made, and dedicated this site as “The City of the Little Salt Lake as long as the sun shone upon it.” A U.S. One Star flag was raised on the Liberty Pole which still stands on the hillside directly east of here, and a fine celebration was held, a tradition carried to this day,

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 37° 50.179′ N, 112° 49.652′ W. Marker is in Parowan, Utah, in Iron County. It can be reached from Old Highway 91 (U.S. 91). It is in Parowan Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 95 W old Highway

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91, Parowan UT 84761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Color Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Memorial to Horace and Hannah Leavitt Fish (here, next to this marker); The Founding of Iron County (a few steps from this marker); Birthplace of Southern Utah (a few steps from this marker); Southern Utah Expedition of 1849 (a few steps from this marker); Parley P. Pratt (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parowan.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2012

2. Southern Expedition, 1849-1850 Marker

Birthplace of Southern Utah Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2012

3. Birthplace of Southern Utah Monument

Southern Expedition 1849-1850 Marker is on wall behind statue. The Liberty Pole which still stands is visible on the hillside behind wall.

Parowan, the Mother Town image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007

4. Parowan, the Mother Town

Parowan is known as the "Mother Town of the Southwest" because many original and subsequent residents left Parowan to settle new communities in southern Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon and Wyoming.

Welcome to the Birthplace of Southern Utah, January 13, 1851 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 20, 2007

5. Welcome to the Birthplace of Southern Utah, January 13, 1851

Jesse N. Smith Home, Parowan image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2012

6. Jesse N. Smith Home, Parowan

Pioneer Rock Church, Parowan image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2012

7. Pioneer Rock Church, Parowan

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,890 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 28, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on September 17, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4, 5. submitted on June 28, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on September 18, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.