Near Panguitch in Garfield County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Butch Cassidy

Legend of the Wild West

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010

1. Butch Cassidy Marker

Inscription.

Butch Cassidy. Legend of the Wild West. , Outlaw or Hero? , "My father, he carried the mail, and he always stopped and had dinner at a certain place [in Red Canyon]. While he was having dinner, old Butch Cassidy came to his camp. He told about these fellows following him. He got up on this ledge, and when they got pretty close, he shot right between them. Well, those old fellows spurred their horses...and went back. Butch started to eat, then he would just keel over laughing..." -Thomas Richards, Tropic resident, Southern Utah Oral History Project., This remote and rugged country has attracted many characters, but none so legendary as Butch Cassidy. Born Robert Leroy Parker in Beaver, Utah, Cassidy was the oldest of 13 childen of Mormon immigrants. While still in his teens, Cassidy took up cattle rustling, then armed robbery. In the 1890s, he formed a gang, The Wild Bunch, which included Harry Longabaugh, better known as The Sundance Kid. Though an outlaw for much of his life, Cassidy's charisma and reputation as a champion of the common man have built his heroic stature in American folklore., Fact or Fiction , Truth mingles with fiction in stories of Cassidy's colorful life. No aspect of his life has sparked more debate than the circumstances of his death. Some believe he was shot in Bolivia in 1908, but many local residents recall seeing Cassidy years after that. Their stories lend credibility to a different ending to Cassidy's story - that he gave up crime, changed his name, and died in 1937., In Cassidy Country , Butch Cassidy's legend lives on in Red Canyon. Walk, bike, and horseback ride on the 9-mile Cassidy Trail (½-mile west of here on Highway 12), believed to have been used by the outlaw. Also, if your travels take you north on Highway 89 toward Circleville, you can see the cabin where Cassidy was raised. Stop at the Red Canyon Visitor Center for more information about exploring Cassidy Country., . This historical marker was erected by Scenic Byway 12 and Dixie National Forest. It is Near Panguitch in Garfield County Utah

Outlaw or Hero?
"My father, he carried the mail, and he always stopped and had dinner at a certain place [in Red Canyon]. While he was having dinner, old Butch Cassidy came to his camp. He told about these fellows following him. He got up on this ledge, and when they got pretty close, he shot right between them. Well, those old fellows spurred their horses...and went back. Butch started to eat, then he would just keel over laughing..." -Thomas Richards, Tropic resident, Southern Utah Oral History Project.

This remote and rugged country has attracted many characters, but none so legendary as Butch Cassidy. Born Robert Leroy Parker in Beaver, Utah, Cassidy was the oldest of 13 childen of Mormon immigrants. While still in his teens, Cassidy took up cattle rustling, then armed robbery. In the 1890s, he formed a gang, The Wild Bunch, which included Harry Longabaugh, better known as The Sundance Kid. Though an outlaw for much of his life, Cassidy's charisma and reputation as a champion of the common man have built his heroic stature in American folklore.

Fact or Fiction
Truth mingles with fiction

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in stories of Cassidy's colorful life. No aspect of his life has sparked more debate than the circumstances of his death. Some believe he was shot in Bolivia in 1908, but many local residents recall seeing Cassidy years after that. Their stories lend credibility to a different ending to Cassidy's story - that he gave up crime, changed his name, and died in 1937.

In Cassidy Country
Butch Cassidy's legend lives on in Red Canyon. Walk, bike, and horseback ride on the 9-mile Cassidy Trail (½-mile west of here on Highway 12), believed to have been used by the outlaw. Also, if your travels take you north on Highway 89 toward Circleville, you can see the cabin where Cassidy was raised. Stop at the Red Canyon Visitor Center for more information about exploring Cassidy Country.

Erected by Scenic Byway 12 and Dixie National Forest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 37° 44.412′ N, 112° 17.762′ W. Marker is near Panguitch, Utah, in Garfield County. Marker is on Utah Route 12, on the left when traveling east. Marker is in Dixie National Forest's Red Canyon. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Panguitch UT 84759, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010

2. Butch Cassidy Marker

the crow flies. Red Canyon Tunnels (approx. 0.2 miles away); Podunk Guard Station (approx. 1.3 miles away); Bryce Airport (approx. 7½ miles away); A Little Panguitch History (approx. 9.3 miles away); The Panguitch Quilt Walk (approx. 9.4 miles away); Panguitch Fort (approx. 9.4 miles away); Panguitch Stake Tabernacle (approx. 9.4 miles away); Panguitch Tithing Lot (approx. 9.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panguitch.

Also see . . .
1. Butch Cassidy. (Submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Dixie National Forest. (Submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Red Canyon Activities. (Submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, June 13, 2014

3. Butch Cassidy Marker

Marker is visible in center of photo.

Photo of Butch Cassidy on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa 1890s

4. Photo of Butch Cassidy on Marker

Courtesy Utah State Historical Society

Photo on Butch Cassidy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa 1900s

5. Photo on Butch Cassidy Marker

[Caption reads] Butch Cassidy (far right) and the Wild Bunch / Utah State Historical Society

View from Butch Cassidy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 14, 2010

6. View from Butch Cassidy Marker

Looking west

Circle Valley Homestead of Butch Cassidy, his Parents, and Siblings image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Doug Lowe, circa May 2008

7. Circle Valley Homestead of Butch Cassidy, his Parents, and Siblings

Photo of author, Doug Lowe, and his wife, from the cover of his guidebook, Butch & Sundance Sightseeing in Utah & Neighboring States, on www.ButchCassidyCountry.com

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,631 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on June 24, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 7. submitted on April 16, 2012, by Doug Lowe of Fountain Green, Utah.