Central in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Site 3: Memorial to the Men and Older Boys
National Historic Landmark
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, September 11, 2025
1. Mountain Meadows Massacre Marker
Inscription.
Mountain Meadows Massacre. Site 3: Memorial to the Men and Older Boys. In early September 1857, about 140 people camped in this valley. Most of them were families from northwest Arkansas. Led by Captains John T. Baker and Alexander Fancher, they were headed to new opportunities in California. Their worldly possessions included about 35 wagons, several hundred cattle, and many mules, horses, and oxen. , , Beginning on September 7, the camp was attacked by a group of Mormon militiamen and the Paiute Indians they had recruited. In a five-day siege fueled by complex hostilities, the attackers killed at least 10 men who fought valiantly to defend family and friends. , , The emigrants fought off their attackers until September 11, when Mormon militiamen entered the encampment under a white flag of truce. The militiamen deceived their victims into surrendering weapons and property in exchange for protection and safety. , , The militiamen separated the emigrants into three groups and marched them from the camp. The wounded and some small children rode in wagons, followed by women and older girls on foot with other children. Men and older boys walked some distance behind, each escorted by a Mormon militiaman. , , At a prearranged signal, militiamen shot the men, older boys, and some of the wounded. Mormons and Paiutes surged from their hiding places and, in a matter of minutes, massacred most of the remaining emigrants, including the courageous women who were attempting to protect the children and flee. The victims' voices fell silent, except for the sobbing of 17 small surviving children. The dead were stripped of their clothing and left without decent burial. Their wagons, livestock, and other property were plundered. , , In 1859, soldiers in the United States Army buried the victims' scattered, scavenged remains. , , Seventeen years after the massacre, a federal grand jury indicted nine Mormon militiamen for crimes related to the siege and massacre. About 50 other militiamen were involved, along with an unknown number of Paiutes. Only one, John D. Lee, was brought to trial and convicted. He was executed near here on March 23, 1877.,
In early September 1857, about 140 people camped in this valley. Most of them were families from northwest Arkansas. Led by Captains John T. Baker and Alexander Fancher, they were headed to new opportunities in California. Their worldly possessions included about 35 wagons, several hundred cattle, and many mules, horses, and oxen.
Beginning on September 7, the camp was attacked by a group of Mormon militiamen and the Paiute Indians they had recruited. In a five-day siege fueled by complex hostilities, the attackers killed at least 10 men who fought valiantly to defend family and friends.
The emigrants fought off their attackers until September 11, when Mormon militiamen entered the encampment under a white flag of truce. The militiamen deceived their victims into surrendering weapons and property in exchange for protection and safety.
The militiamen separated the emigrants into three groups and marched them from the camp. The wounded and some small children rode in wagons, followed by women and older girls on foot with other children. Men and older boys walked some distance behind, each escorted by a Mormon militiaman.
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a prearranged signal, militiamen shot the men, older boys, and some of the wounded. Mormons and Paiutes surged from their hiding places and, in a matter of minutes, massacred most of the remaining emigrants, including the courageous women who were attempting to protect the children and flee. The victims' voices fell silent, except for the sobbing of 17 small surviving children. The dead were stripped of their clothing and left without decent burial. Their wagons, livestock, and other property were plundered.
In 1859, soldiers in the United States Army buried the victims' scattered, scavenged remains.
Seventeen years after the massacre, a federal grand jury indicted nine Mormon militiamen for crimes related to the siege and massacre. About 50 other militiamen were involved, along with an unknown number of Paiutes. Only one, John D. Lee, was brought to trial and convicted. He was executed near here on March 23, 1877.
(Marker Number 3.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1857.
Location. 37° 29.268′ N, 113° 37.822′ W. Marker is in Central, Utah,
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, September 11, 2025
2. Mountain Meadows Massacre Sites Map
in Washington County. It is on North Highway, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3968 North Highway, Veyo UT 84782, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, and in 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 11, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
