Museums

Previous State Park Museums

• Brigham Young Home State Museum
  Brigham Young Winter Home (Washington County) was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is now owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here you can see an original drawing for one of the park’s directional signs from the era when the museum was still part of the Dixie State Park.
  
• Fort Deseret - 1957
  Fort Deseret (Millard County) was part of the original list of sites suggested as a potential state park by the Utah State Parks Commission. Fort Deseret, however, never received the official state park designation.  This black and white photo-collage was part of an application for funding to preserve the park. The photos offer a close-up view of the fort [1].
• Jacob Hamblin Home Museum - 1959
  The Jacob Hamblin Home (Washington County) was originally part of Dixie State Park as a museum dedicated to a well-known Mormon pioneer. The museum is now owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Washington County News article outlines the dedication services in 1964, when the home was opened officially [2].
• This is the Place Heritage Park - 1957
  This is the Place Heritage Park, formerly Pioneer Trail State Park in Salt Lake County, opened in 1957 as a monument and museum dedicated to the Mormon pioneers.  Since 1998, the park has been managed by the non-profit This is the Place Foundation. Although the park has changed greatly since its inception, monuments, such as the one shown here, still stand [3].
• Veteran’s Memorial State Park - 1990
  Opened in 1990, Veterans Memorial State Park in Salt Lake County is a military cemetery with a chapel, wall of honor, and military museum on the grounds.  It is operated by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.  This Veterans Memorial Park brochure contains information about burials, costs, policies, and services and facilities available throughout the park [4].

Current State Park Museums

• Anasazi State Park Museum - 1970
  Anasazi State Park Museum (Garfield County) was created in 1970 and is located near an Anasazi Puebloan village.  This brochure, created by Utah State Parks and Recreation, offers a brief history of the area and explores the lives of the people who inhabited the village.
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• Camp Floyd State Park Museum - 1958
  Camp Floyd State Park Museum (Utah County) opened in 1958.  The camp was built in 1858 to house the U.S. Army who had been sent west to suppress a supposed Mormon rebellion. This brochure from the Camp Floyd State Park opening ceremony in 1958 includes information about the original occupants of the camp and their quarters.
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• Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum - 1970
  Opened in 1970, Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum (San Juan County) is dedicated to the Puebloans that once lived in the area.  The museum houses Native American artifacts and features a reconstruction of an authentic Puebloan village. This is the title page of a booklet featuring Native American rock art that was available at the park’s visitor center.
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• Fremont Indian State Park and Museum - 1987
  The Fremont Indian State Park and Museum (Sevier County) opened in 1987. It is located near the largest prehistoric Fremont Indian village yet excavated in Utah.  This 1987 Richfield Reaper article and photograph by Hal Edwards announces the opening of the park, which was an exciting event for those who lived in the area.
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• Frontier Homestead State Park - 1980
  The Frontier Homestead State Park (Iron County) officially opened as Iron Mission State Park in 1980. Currently it is a museum dedicated to the early industrial life of the area around Cedar City, Utah. This article, by Brook Elliott in the Touring America magazine, features Iron Mission State Park as conveniently located and a great stop during road trips because it is “Along the Interstates.”
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• Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum - 1957
  The Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum (Millard County) was the first state park to open in Utah in 1957 and is Utah’s oldest government building. These images show both the interior hall of the museum and the signage used to direct visitors to stop on by.
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• Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum - 1959
  The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum (Uintah County) opened in 1959.  Park brochures, such as this one, were created to provide visitors with a brief history of the area and the animals that once roamed there.
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