Grand Island in Hall County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Mormon Trail
Photographed By Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011
1. Mormon Trail Marker
Inscription.
Mormon Trail. . Religious freedom, An American ideal, has on occasion been denied certain sects because of prejudice. Mormons were once persecuted and forced from their homes. The north bank of the Platte River served as the exodus route for thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Driven from Nauvoo, Illinois, Mormon leader Brigham young led the first migration up this valley in 1847 to found the proposed states of Deseret, now Utah.
During the following two decades, thousands more gathered at Winter Quarters on the west bank of the Missouri River near present Florence, Nebraska before beginning the trek across the plains and mountains to their land of Milk and Honey. The journey called for strength and courage, as well as faith, for tragedy often stalked their wagons and handcarts, turning this valley into a Mormon “trail of tears.” Hundreds of pioneers lie buried along this trail, most in unmarked graves.
After 1860 the overland trail along the south bank of the river was lined with road ranches and stage stations, but the Mormon Trail had few such conveniences, and the pioneer settlements here in Hall County were almost the last vestiges of civilization until the travelers reached Utah. Hall County Historical Society, Nebraska State Historical Society
Religious freedom, An American ideal, has on occasion been denied certain sects because of prejudice. Mormons were once persecuted and forced from their homes. The north bank of the Platte River served as the exodus route for thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Driven from Nauvoo, Illinois, Mormon leader Brigham young led the first migration up this valley in 1847 to found the proposed states of Deseret, now Utah.
During the following two decades, thousands more gathered at Winter Quarters on the west bank of the Missouri River near present Florence, Nebraska before beginning the trek across the plains and mountains to their land of Milk and Honey. The journey called for strength and courage, as well as faith, for tragedy often stalked their wagons and handcarts, turning this valley into a Mormon “trail of tears.” Hundreds of pioneers lie buried along this trail, most in unmarked graves.
After 1860 the overland trail along the south bank of the river was lined with road ranches and stage stations, but the Mormon Trail had few such conveniences, and the pioneer settlements here in Hall County were almost the last vestiges of civilization until the travelers reached Utah.
Hall County Historical Society, Nebraska State Historical Society (Marker Number 157.)
Location. 40° 52.991′ N, 98° 22.478′ W. Marker is on Grand Island, Nebraska, in Hall County. Marker is at the intersection of Tech Drive and U.S. 34 on Tech Drive. Marker located on outside of the circle at The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Island NE 68801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 963 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
