A Brief History of
This Is The Place Heritage Park

1917 – B.H. Roberts and a troop of Boy Scouts erected a wooden marker identifying the spot where Brigham Young and his party first entered the valley in 1847.

1921 – The wooden marker was replaced with a white stone monument in a dedicatory ceremony that included surviving members of the 1847 pioneer company. That monument is located east of the present-day TITP Visitors’ Center.

1937 – Sculptor Mahonri M. Young, a grandson of Brigham Young, was commissioned by the State of Utah to design and create a new, larger monument.

1947 – On the 100th anniversary of the entry of the pioneers into the valley, This Is The Place Monument was dedicated at a ceremony attended by nearly 50,000 people.

1957 – A group of private citizens bought much of the land now contained in the Park and gave it to the State of Utah to preserve it from commercial development. One of the previous uses for the land was an artillery firing range for nearby Ft. Douglas. The state Parks and Recreation Division was charged with the responsibility for maintenance and improvement of the property.

1959 – A small visitors’ center was constructed near the Monument; it featured a large mural by local artist Lynn Fausett.

1971 – The state legislature appropriated $100,000 to research and prepare a master plan for the creation of a living history museum.

1973 – Following the appropriation of $1M for land acquisition and development, the Park was expanded to include 450 acres.

1974 – An additional $1.7M was appropriated for the construction of underground utilities.

1975 – Brigham Young’s Forest Farmhouse was moved from the Sugar House area in the central valley to the Park for restoration. In was opened to the public the following year.

1979 – Five original pioneer homes were donated to the Park and restored. A small bowery was constructed.

1980 – A replica of the original Social Hall located in downtown Salt Lake City was built in the Park.

1981 – Two adobe homes, two frame homes and one log cabin were relocated to the Park. The blacksmith shop also was completed.

1992 through 1995 – This was a period of major expansion in which the Manti Z.C.M.I store was dismantled and reconstructed in the Park, a pioneer dugout home was constructed, 15 replica structures were built and the Hickman Cabin was relocated from Fairview to the Park The Utah Statehood Centennial Commission adopted the Park as its living legacy project. The legislature appropriated $2.4M for a new visitors’ center.

1996 – The park was designated This Is The Place State Park by the State Centennial Commission.

1998 – The state legislature approved the creation of a private, non-profit This Is The Place Foundation that would manage the Park.

2000 through 2004 – Another expansion of the Park included construction of a large parking area east of the Monument and a plaza between it and the new visitors’ center. Other construction completed during this period involved the Cedar City Tithing Office, Snelgrove Boot Shop, John Pack home, William Atkin home, Brigham Young Academy, Heber C. Kimball home, P.W. Madsen Furniture Company and the Deseret Hospital.

2006 – The management of This Is The Place Foundation was changed, and with it the direction of the Park. Emphasis was placed on expanding the programming and access to the Park.

2007 – Two replica trains were acquired to aid in accessibility and entertainment. A new logo was adopted and all printed materials were upgraded. More buildings were opened and programming was expanded. The Monument Café was opened, as were a new Pioneer Playground and Petting Corral.
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