After a warm welcome at the Visitor's Center, we sat down to watch a movie about the Hole in the Rock/San Juan Mission pioneers. Mormon pioneers who received the assignment call to establish communities in southwestern Utah and the Four Corners area left Escalante, UT in 1879 and arrived in the San Juan River area in 1880. Their journey had them endure unbelievable difficulties as they blazed a trail across some of the most rugged terrain imaginable. Their path included a journey through a crevice through the Colorado River gorge now called Hole in the Rock. After crossing the Colorado River, they had to forge a path up Cottonwood Canyon and then San Juan Hill. Seven horses or oxen teams had to be hitched together with men pushing each wheel to pull each of the heavy wagons to the top. Can you imagine? It certainly left me feeling very impressed with the sacrifices, toughness and commitment to faith each pioneer showed during their journey. The average age of the pioneers was 17 and amazingly, not one life was lost during their six-month journey.
When the pioneers finally arrived and settled what is now the town of Bluff, they built one-room log cabins that were arranged to form a large square. Their assignment was to "feed the Indians; not fight them". Descendants of these pioneers have formed an organization to preserve and restore the original fort site. Volunteers were busily working putting the final touches on the premises today as they were getting ready for an unveiling of a statue and dedication on Saturday. We walked around the fort and while they still have a lot of work ahead of them, we got a good glimpse of pioneer life:
When the pioneers finally arrived and settled what is now the town of Bluff, they built one-room log cabins that were arranged to form a large square. Their assignment was to "feed the Indians; not fight them". Descendants of these pioneers have formed an organization to preserve and restore the original fort site. Volunteers were busily working putting the final touches on the premises today as they were getting ready for an unveiling of a statue and dedication on Saturday. We walked around the fort and while they still have a lot of work ahead of them, we got a good glimpse of pioneer life:
Navajo Hogan
Interior of the Hogan
Typical Ute homesite
Fort grounds
Part original/part restored home of Joseph and Harriet Barton
Chair
Now, a table. Cards anyone?
Shot of the Bluff valley taken from the Pioneer Cemetery
Distinctive canyon walls
Twin Rocks above the Trading Post and Cafe
The area around here is remote to this day. To think of it in 1880 when the Mormon pioneers arrived leaves me impressed with their dedication and conviction to establish a home in these barren lands. The quote of one the pioneers, Jens Nielsen, "If we have plenty of stick-ta-tudy, we cannot fail" and they didn't.
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