This Is the Place Heritage Park | Salt Lake City

This Is the Place Heritage Park is a living history and cultural park located in Salt Lake City, Utah, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the early pioneer history of the region. Spanning over 400 acres at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, the park recreates the life, settlements, and experiences of Utah’s 19th-century pioneers, offering a combination of historical exhibits, interactive experiences, and scenic natural landscapes.

Historical Significance

The park is named to commemorate Brigham Young’s famous declaration, “This is the place,” upon entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, marking the settlement of the Mormon pioneers. The park’s mission is to educate visitors about pioneer life, the settlement of Utah, and the cultural heritage of the region through immersive environments, live demonstrations, and preserved historic structures.

Layout and Attractions

The park is organized to represent both pioneer settlements and frontier life, featuring a variety of historic buildings, replicas, and themed areas:

Historic Homes and Buildings: Restored and reconstructed cabins, homes, and public buildings illustrate typical pioneer architecture. Visitors can explore log cabins, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, and other structures furnished to reflect 19th-century daily life.

Pioneer Village: This area recreates a small frontier town, complete with working shops, horse-drawn wagons, and interactive demonstrations of pioneer crafts, cooking, and trades.

Livestock and Farm Areas: Barns and pens house farm animals typical of the pioneer era, including horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. Visitors can observe and sometimes interact with animals, gaining insight into agricultural practices of the period.

Railroad and Transportation Exhibits: The park includes a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that transports visitors around the grounds. Historic wagons, carriages, and period transportation tools provide a hands-on understanding of travel in the 19th century.

Gardens and Landscape: Open fields, orchards, and gardens demonstrate traditional pioneer farming techniques and plant species, providing a natural setting for exploration and recreation.

Educational Programs and Interactive Experiences

This Is the Place Heritage Park emphasizes hands-on learning and engagement:

Demonstrations and Reenactments: Costumed interpreters demonstrate blacksmithing, carpentry, textile production, cooking, and other pioneer skills.

School Programs and Camps: The park offers educational field trips, summer camps, and workshops designed to teach history, agriculture, and craftsmanship to children and students.

Special Events: Seasonal events include pioneer-themed celebrations, heritage festivals, holiday activities, and historical reenactments, allowing visitors to experience pioneer traditions firsthand.

Visitor Amenities

Trails and Picnic Areas: The park features walking paths, shaded picnic spots, and scenic overlooks, offering opportunities for leisurely exploration and outdoor meals.

Accessibility: Paths and exhibits are designed for accessibility, allowing visitors of varying mobility to experience the park fully.

Dining and Gift Shops: On-site eateries and shops provide refreshments, snacks, and souvenirs themed around pioneer history and Utah heritage.

Atmosphere and Impressions

The park creates an immersive and nostalgic atmosphere. The combination of historic buildings, period-accurate demonstrations, and natural landscapes transports visitors to 19th-century Utah. Visitors often notice small details such as the sounds of livestock, the rhythmic hammering of blacksmiths, or the scent of fresh-cut wood, which enrich the experience and make the history tangible. Seasonal changes, including snow in winter or wildflowers in spring, add visual diversity and charm.

Closing

This Is the Place Heritage Park offers a comprehensive and engaging journey into Utah’s pioneer past. Its combination of interactive exhibits, historical architecture, live demonstrations, and scenic landscapes provides an educational and enjoyable experience for families, history enthusiasts, and visitors seeking to understand the settlement, culture, and lifestyle of early Utah pioneers.