Discovery Road – Winner of Best In State 2022 – Best Documentary

Since its debut in 2012, Discovery Road has produced over 60 episodes, taking viewers on immersive journeys down U.S. Highway 89 through six historic counties in central and southern Utah.

 

Each 30-minute episode blends history, mystery, heritage, and natural beauty into family-friendly storytelling that educates as much as it entertains.

 

Broadcast locally on KUED-TV and across the country through the National Educational Television Association, or NETA, the series has become a public media touchstone for anyone seeking a deeper connection to the region’s past. It is also used in classrooms across the state as part of Utah’s history curriculum.

Mormon Pioneers traveling to the west Covered Wagons Courtesy of Shaun Messick

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.

Districts

travel planner for the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area

Cowboys, Outlaws, and the Movies 

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.

Mormon Colonization 

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

Don’t Forget to Get Your National Parks Passports Stamped in the MPNHA

Don’t Forget to Get Your National Parks Passports Stamped while visiting the  MPNHA

The National Park Service (NPS) offers visitors a unique way to explore and connect with America’s treasured landscapes and cultural sites through the Passport to Your National Parks Program. This popular program encourages people of all ages to collect ink cancellations, or “stamps,” at national parks, historic sites, monuments, and National Heritage Areas across the country. Each stamp records the name of the site and the date of the visit, creating a personalized travel keepsake while inspiring a deeper appreciation for America’s diverse heritage.

National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are particularly special within this program. Unlike traditional national parks, NHAs are living landscapes where communities, businesses, and organizations collaborate with the NPS to preserve stories, traditions, and cultural resources that shaped the nation. From historic transportation routes and industrial centers to rich agricultural regions and cultural corridors, NHAs highlight the connection between people and place. Visitors to these areas can earn passport cancellations while experiencing unique regional history, food, music, and art. The MPNHA is proud to participate in this program with several other National Heritage Areas.

The Passport Program not only promotes tourism but also supports education, stewardship, and pride in America’s shared history. By collecting stamps, travelers celebrate the past, discover new destinations, and create meaningful memories tied to the enduring mission of the National Park Service.

Bryce Canyon National Park in the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Capitol Reef National Park in Utah Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Zion National Park in the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area

To receive your commemorative MPNHA Passport stamp, you can visit Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, or Zion National Park. You can also visit the Kane, Garfield, or Wayne County Visitors Center for a stamp.

More sites coming soon, so please check back before starting your visit to the MPNHA.

Passports can be purchased onsite in many locations or ordered from Amazon.

Affiliate link – clicking and purchasing from this link will support the MPNHA’s programs. For complete details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure Policy.

This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

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