Bluff in San Juan County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Replica of the Log Meetinghouse

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

1. Replica of the Log Meetinghouse Marker

Inscription. Bluff's log meetinghouse was the center of all public gatherings for the small community on the remote San Juan frontier. The meetinghouse, which was part of the north wall of the Bluff Fort, served as chapel, courthouse, ballroom, concert hall, and schoolhouse. It was a place where pioneers were entertained with dance, dramatization, and musical performances. It was also a place of worship and learning, and on occasion, it sheltered families whose mud roof failed to keep the rain out or whose cabins were flooded by the river. The meetinghouse was built in the latter part of 1880.

According to Albert R. Lyman, "It offered a handy place for friends to meet, and for strolling lovers to rest in the evening....not just a church, but simply a meetinghouse, vested with all essentials for solemn worship, but not too good nor too nice for any lawful service to the busy pioneers."

Captions
(Photo #1) From left to right: Kumen Jones, Platte D. Lyman, Jens Nielson, James B. Decker and Frances A. Hammond. Late 1890s photograph taken by Charles Goodman just prior to the meetinghouse being torn down.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 37° 17.044′ N, 109° 33.169′

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

W. Marker is in Bluff, Utah, in San Juan County. It is at the intersection of Black Locust Avenue and 5th E Street on Black Locust Avenue. The marker is located at the Bluff Fort Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Black Locust Ave, Bluff UT 84512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Navajo Nation

and in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Josephine Catherine Chatterley Wood (a few steps from this marker); The Co-op Store (a few steps from this marker); Fort Montezuma (a few steps from this marker); Irrigation - The San Juan Pioneers Greatest Challenge (within shouting distance of this marker); Replica of the Bluff Meetinghouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Bluff Fort Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The San Juan Gold Rush (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Kumen Jones Home (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluff.

Also see . . . Bluff Fort Visitor Center. Hole in the Rock Foundation website entry (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Replica of the Log Meetinghouse and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

2. Replica of the Log Meetinghouse and Marker

The inside view of the Log Meetinghouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

3. The inside view of the Log Meetinghouse

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.