The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area is the only National Heritage Area designated and named for a specific people, the Mormon Pioneers – as they forged to the west. Their remarkable story of dedication, fortitude, and extraordinary efforts offers one of the best features of the Mormon colonization experience in the United States. The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area has been identified by Congress as a factor in the expansion of the United States and contributing to the United States.

black and white photo of butch cassidy and gang — Butch Cassidy and Gang

The unique landscape features a geological wonderland that has been the backdrop for feature films including; “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid,” and “Jeremiah Johnson.” While traveling through the picturesque scenery, you might recognize a scene or two. Included in the heritage area is the birthplace of Utah outlaws, Butch Cassidy and Matt Warner. Matt was a lifelong friend and a gang member alongside of Butch. Many movies were filmed in the scenic Under the Rim District of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.

In the later part of the 1800s the Mormon pioneers began their great relocation to the west. They trekked 1,400 miles from Illinois to the Great Salt Lake. This mass-Exodus brought about colonization in Utah, Nevada, the southwest corner of Wyoming, the southeast corner of Idaho, southeast Oregon, and a large portion of southern and eastern California.

log cabin with Mormon Pioneer Family Echo City Utah — Family Portrait of Mormon Pioneers in Echo City, Utah

Their role comes alive as you travel through the communities they built, giving you a picturesque glimpse into the Mormons’ role in the old west, and a sense of life in the mid 1800s. You will be awed by the area specific architecture found in the heritage area. It was largely influenced by the vast number of European immigrants that came to Utah in the 1800s. The colonization of central and southern Utah brought many talented stonemasons to the area to quarry the unique natural resources of the Oolitic limestone exclusively found in Sanpete County which is located in the Little Denmark District.

Little Denmark

The Little Denmark District of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area is located within Sanpete County, in Central Utah. The Sanpitch Mountains on the west and the Wasatch Plateau on the east surround the charming collection of 12 small towns and communities within the district. They are framed within the beauty that Sanpete Valley offers. These mountain ranges offer many lakes and streams to provide an outdoor experience for each and everyone. From spectator to the seasoned outdoors person, many enticing opportunities await.

Communities in Little Denmark:

The largest city in the district is Ephraim, home of the Scandinavian Festival and Snow College. Snow College offers two-year degrees and hosts an extension program with the Utah State University.

Five miles south, on Utah Heritage Highway 89 is the county seat of Manti. Here on Temple Hill, the annual presentation of Mormon Miracle Pageant is held. The 8 free performances attract combined audiences of 80,000. With a setting under the stars on Temple Hill, 500 performers tell the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Traveling north from Ephraim on Highway 89, a turn to the east will bring you into Historic Spring City. The entire city of Spring City is on the National Register of Historic Places. This historical designation recognizes Spring City’s status as a well-preserved example of a Mormon settlement. Many artisans live in this community and have their studios, or galleries here as well. Here you can see several homes built 150 years ago.

Mount Pleasant City is one of the Preserve America and National Main Street Communities. This charming city is nestled between Ephraim and Fairview and is an excellent example of small town USA. Friendly people, local stores, and the gateway to many outdoor activities makes Mount Pleasant a great stopping place. Surrounded by mountains, deer are a common sight right on Main Street (photographed above). Many of the residents are greeted in the early morning or near dusk with a doe and her fawn or fawns grazing on their lawn.

As you travel through Mount Pleasant on Utah Heritage Highway 89, make sure to stop at the old National Guard Armory at the northeast corner State Street and Main Street.

You won’t want to miss the tribute to the United States Veterans of Wars.

[Local artist] “Jason Quinn, has helped refresh this community’s aging – and now retired – National Guard armory with larger-than-life murals of seven U.S. soldiers.

The figures are each painted to resemble three-dimensional bronze statues along Mount Pleasant’s high-trafficked intersection of Highway 89 and Main Street – mark each military conflict that brought Sanpete County residents to arms.

One serviceman cradles a rifle with a poncho pulled over his shoulders. Another sports an upturned mustache and wide-brimmed hat. Still another has a string of ammo slung over his chest.

Those residents fought in the Black Hawk War between Utah’s pioneers and their American Indian neighbors. They joined the Mexican-American War, both world wars, Korea, Vietnam and the latest conflicts in the Middle East.” By Jeremial Stettler of The Salt Lake Tribune on September 22, 2008.

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Boulder Loop

Headwaters

Little Denmark

Sevier Valley

Under the Rim – Little Hollywood

Little Denmark