Grantsville in Tooele County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Donner-Reed Memorial Museum

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 30, 2026

1. Donner-Reed Memorial Museum Marker

Inscription. This property was within the walls of the Willow Creek Fort, (Grantsville), which was built shortly after the first white settlers arrived. The main building was erected in 1852. J. Reuben Clark II purchased the property in later years and restored the building. The site was eventually donated to Grantsville City for use as a museum. The log cabin and blacksmith shop were placed here in later years.

This museum is named for the Donner-Reed Party. In 1846 they stopped at nearby Twenty Wells to let their animals rest and gain strength before continuing their ill fated trip. While crossing the Salt Desert they lost many wagons and other belongings on the mud flats east of Pilot Mountain. The hardships suffered in Utah delayed their journey. Winter overtook them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, resulting in their well known catastrophe. Some of the articles left by the Donner-Reed Party are displayed in this museum, along with other pioneer and Indian relics.

This monument contains cornerstones and markers from early Grantsville Buildings, Refurbishment of the area began July 1975 and was completed July 1976. Funds were from

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Utah American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and Grantsville City Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 40° 36.123′ N, 112° 28.428′ W. Marker is in Grantsville, Utah, in Tooele County. It is at the intersection of North Cooley Street and W Clark Street, on the left when traveling north on North Cooley Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 90 N Cooley Street, Grantsville UT 84029, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Wasatch Front,

in the West Desert,

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American 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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Cherokee Trail (a few steps from

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 30, 2026

2. Donner-Reed Memorial Museum Marker

this marker); Grantsville Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Jeffries Property Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Twenty Wells/Emigrant Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alex and Mary Johnson Home (approx. half a mile away); Hilda Anderson Erickson (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grantsville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.