“ an American Artist Might Extract from Such Scenery As Echo Canyon, a System of Architecture As Original and As
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Echo Canyon final 2009:Layout 1 4/28/11 10:16 AM Page 1 “ An American artist might extract from such scenery as Echo Canyon, a system of architecture as original and as HISTORICAL SOCIETY Y 0 T 0 N 0 U 2 O C D T I R M A M W U S A P RESERVATION Stand at the mouth of Echo Canyon and shout out Hills” where, they from Salt Lake City to New York City, ten words for preserved and displayed at the Daughters of Utah your name. You’ll know in an instant why it’s called prayed for health for $5.00 ($85.00 today, when a picture post card cost 26 Pioneers (DUP) cabin and may be seen by appointment. Echo Canyon. their leader, and for all cents and takes a small One of the first pioneers William This was one of the foremost paths of the new nation’s the Latter Day Saints fraction of the time to get Clayton writes: “There was a Westward Expansion. Pursuing vast herds of bison, Supplication Hills above Temple Camp who would follow them there.) In addition to very singular echo in this Native Americans first traveled the trail through the one day along the trail, and for their wives and Echo, the Pony Express, ravine, the rattling of wagons canyon floor, followed by trappers, explorers and children left behind in Winter Quarters. whenever its riders resembled carpenters Steamboat Rocks seekers of gold and silver. Pioneers all, used this By 1857, the Mormon way of life was threatened by survived the precarious hammering at board inside This is Echo Canyon, a name and a place natural gateway from the towering peaks of Wyoming fear of an impending “Utah War.” Spring Creek was journey, made stops at the highest rocks. The not authentic Dixie Hollow, Weber, Hanging Rock, and Eastern Utah to the flat salt deserts and unknown established by General Wells as a commissary for the Poster echo, the high rocks on the which still resounds in the hearts and minds of the lands to the West. Mormon troops. It was operated by members of the and Castle Rock, the latter two featuring spectacular north, high mountains on Mormon people of Utah and people everywhere. sandstone cliffs which overhang the highway today. the south, with a narrow Soon wagon trains traversed the canyon floor, then the territorial militia. Supplies were not forwarded but the ravine for a road, formed a Overland Stage, the first Intercontinental Telegraph, commissary was used as a place where Mormon troops In Castle Rock, ambitious settlers, attracted by the scenery at once romantic and and the Union Pacific Railroad snaked its way through could stop and get re-supplied of have a hot meal. hope of trade with others traveling the canyon, Canyon Photo by A.J. Russel 1868 There was a second commissary near present day Echo homesteaded the land and built a town which soon more interesting than I have the canyon on its way to meet the Central Pacific at Courtesy of the Union Pacific Historical Collection ever witnessed.” Promontory Point on the Great Salt Lake. Who, in City called Weber Station and a third one on the Utah- boasted a railroad depot, section house for rail 1846, ever dreamed that the Lincoln Highway and Wyoming border at yellow creek. Remnants of stone workers, a water-driven mill, and a school house. Interstate 80 would one day pass this way, bringing erected by the Mormon Militia during the Utah War of Echo Church, built under towering visitors from all over this great land to Echo Canyon? 1857-58 still can be seen in the red cliffs of Echo Canyon. conglomerate cliffs, had brick walls, And, in 1858, For it was in July, 1846, that the Lienhard and a belfry steeple and a wooden entry. troops of the It was a public school from 1880 Harlan-Young parties explored the area, driving wagons U.S. Army did along the treacherous and virtually impassable Weber until 1913, then a Mormon chapel indeed arrive for the next fifty years. It is now a River (pronounced “Weeber,” after Captain John Weber to quell what of the 1823 Ashley Fur expedition.) The rock-filled meeting hall and museum, was called the alongside the Echo cemetery. river’s edge was so treacherous that the famed Donnor “Mormon party later that year bypassed the canyon entirely and Echo Dam Rebellion.” In 1890 polygamy was officially abandoned. Echo Church blazed a new trail West, one that took them 21 days to And in 1896 Utah became the 45th state of the Union. A pair of reckless young men set off on the outlaw trail. As travel the 36 miles to Salt Lake City. usual, the trouble started over something trivial, a few boxes of Echo was settled in 1854 by James E. Bromley. Mr. berries, but the repercussions were devastating. The killing of Echo City Then a year later, in 1847, Brigham Young Bromley was Division Superintendent in charge of the Constable Thomas A. Stagg and former Evanston City Marshal Edward N. led his Mormon immigrants over the Echo monthly mail and operated the Weber Stage Station. Dawes on July 30, 1895, precipitated one of the largest man hunts Utah Canyon trail to Salt Lake City Valley. In Echo remained a quiet little town until the Union has ever known. the next twenty years, 80,000 of the Pacific Railroad was being built, when encampments, Henefer is a farming community where the trail leaves Mormon faithful traveled Echo Canyon, saloons, and brothels sprung up everywhere, and the the Weber River. In 1859, the first homes were built by wagon, handcart and on foot. Echo town became a part of the Wild West. When one of the from adobe brick, packed mud floors, dirt roofs and Brigham Young Canyon became an important Mormon Trail. saloon cellars was excavated, seven skeletons were windows barred by shutters for protection from the Utah became a Territory in 1850, with Brigham Young found under it among the whiskey bottles. When the Indian attack, then still a fact of life in the West. Early as its first Governor. station was demolished, in a wall, were found a love settlers raised grain and cattle, but many things we When Young and members of his party fell ill in camp, letter to a rider, along with a $5.00 gold piece and a pair take for granted, like yeast for baking, needles for four members of the Brigham Young Quorum and six of gold rimmed spectacles. sewing, and matches for fire, were scarce indeed. other brethren scaled the high and steep “Supplication The Pony Express, in 1860 and 1861, carried messages These and countless other pioneer artifacts are Driving Guide national as Egypt ever borrowed from her sandstone ledges or the North of Europe from the depths of her forests”. — Sir Richard Burton 1860 Echo Canyon final 2009:Layout 1 4/28/11 10:17 AM Page 2 Evanston, WY 7 mi. Monument Rock Gristmill marker Red Rock Dam Death’s Rock Stone Breastworks Billboard Bluff Jack in the Pulpit Hanging Rock Names of Pioneers Winged Rock (fortifications) (Early advertisements) 4. Red Rock Dam. 11. Castle Rock. exit #185 20. Echo Post Office. A red sandstone wall, about 100 feet long. It was built on the Below this large crag was a 21. Echo School. (Nat. Reg.) Built 1914. Please visit Echo rest area northwest bank of Echo Canyon Creek, just above Steamboat popular emigrant campsite, Continuous use since 1928. Rock and extended southwest from the railroad track to the where Brigham Young’s party 22. Temple Camp and Supplication Hills. and information. (Exit 170) creek. This wall’s original historic significance is not known. camped July 15, 1847. Site of 1 mile north of Echo on Highway 30 1.6 miles east from I-80/Echo underpass Pony Express Station. Echo Post Office Echo Junction. 23. The Witches. Natural pinnacles. along Echo Canyon Rd. For a slower and more intimate look at the 16 trail, leave I-80 at exit #178, signed Emory, and drive down Described as figures in kirtles and (Exit 169) Echo Canyon Road 5. Death’s Rock. steeple-hats or bonnets, or witch-like. 15 Letter carried by the Pony Express the frontage road for 8 miles to the fortifications. As a result of the Utah War, in 1858, the only Mormon 1.3 miles west of Echo. 14 to die was accidentally shot from the top of the bluff. 12. Brigham’s Monument. 24. Weber River Crossing. 13 ECHO CANYON 6. Stone Breastworks. Left of Castle on the Mountain stands this 12 Top of the cliff shows remnants of stone.Erected by the formation. It was called by many names including, The first known law enforcement officer to give his 1. Echo Junction. (Exit 169) Echo Canyon Road. 11 Mormon Militia during the “Utah War” of 1857-58 Sentinel Rock, Chimney Rock, Tower on the life in the line of duty was Sheriff Rodney Badger, Mormon Trail/ one of the original pioneers. He drowned in 1853 in 80 2. Monument Rock. 3.6 miles east of Echo I-80 underpass along Castle Rock and Brigham’s Monument. 10 Is a prominent and unusual rock formation the Weber River while assisting pioneers who were 9 Pony Express Echo Canyon Rd. 13. The Devils Post office. fording the river. Ogden 33 mi. Echo and can be seen in a side canyon to the 8 7. Billboard Bluff. Underneath stood the 1861 Stage Station 84 7 right of the road.