FREMONT INDIAN, COVE FORT, AND TERRRITORIAL STATEHOUSE MUSEUMS

I didn't get to this Blog as quickly as intended as I got bit by a bug Monday night and still don't feel real great. But I am improving!

Monday the 18th we went out to see some local stuff.  Snow in the mountains, but it did not stop us. It was cloudy all day for us with a couple quick showers. But since there is not a straight path to anything, we did about a 150 mile loop.

Our first stop was the Fremont Indian Museum.  We were please with it and especially liked the petroglyphs. We also got more souvenirs there than usual.  We don't as a general rule buy anything except postcards.
These hills were actually side by side ranges and one was removed to build I-70.  Here we are looking from the museum across that highway. There is no evidence that the Piute Indians ever lived in Clear Creek Canyon, but they traveled seasonally through the canyon since the early 1400's and before. The trail through Clear Creek Canyon was the only route between hunting areas.  A number of the rock art panels within the park are attributed to the Piute.  The trail was improved into a wagon road in 1872 and I-70 was constructed in the 1980's. The museum opened in 1987.
The canyon is filled with remarkable geologic features such as columnar joints, bubble caves in volcanic tuff, hoodoos and cliffs rising hundreds of feet from the ground.

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I always enjoy the different plants and we see many of these along the highway.  I was shocked to find that the leaves on this first bush was so soft and fragile that it was like silk.
I wonder if these soft leaves are indicative of their soft color and vice versa. However, we do see a lot of them.

From this museum we went on to Fort Cove which Gary thought was a military fort.  Surprise!!  It had been built by a Mormon by the name of Ira Hinckley at the request of Brigham Young as a way station for travelers going through the southern part of the territory.  It was built it in seven months bringing the stone from the mountains.  It was built with twelve rooms around the inside of the wall and a courtyard in the center.

This was Ira Hinckley's cabin before the fort was built nearby.  Our tour guide was very informative. She sure knew her Mormon history.

 

This plate on the top shelf was actually used by the Hinckley family.









This is the barn and other out buildings.  They have done a wonderful job of restoration, probably in part because if was not destroyed very much.  The walls were two feet thick  and each room had an entrance off of the courtyard.  But it also had a door connecting each room to avoid going out in inclement weather, and to avoid any invasion (which they did not have).  They had an amicable agreement with the Indians, made with just a hand shake.

This bench was crafted from one of the seven black locust trees planted by Ira Hinckley in 1868.  All but two have had to be removed.

The rooms were well furnished for the late 1800's time period.  So many interesting things.

Safe carried on the stage coach that weighed 70 pounds.

Trundle bed often used by a stage coach driver.

Desk from the telegraph office.
The flag has 37 stars.

Fireplace in each room.

The Telegraph equipment.

Connecting door between rooms.

Crimper iron used for some fancier clothing,
 heated on a stove top.

Bed with it's rolling pin on the center of the headboard.
It was needed to straighten out lumpy bedding made
from corn shocks and straw.

Made from bone and leather.

Bed cover actually made in 1856.

Notice the lower chairs, made thus because the settlers
then were shorter people.

A child's clothing for church.
They had to travel four hours to get to church.
Wow, sure would be a long Sunday.

Cradle with two functions.
When not a cradle, it was turned upside
down and the cushion put on top
to be used as a bench.

Pop goes the Weasel!
This is actually a weasel which measured
thirty rounds of yarn which would
cause the button on the back to "pop" out
with a popping sound.

Made from hair collected from haircuts, which
was collected in a box that set on one
of the mantles.

On to our last stop, the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum, Utah's oldest existing governmental building and the first state park.  After building just two wings of the planned Statehouse, in 1851 the newly appointed Governor Brigham Young selected this site for the capital of Utah Territory, named in honor of US President Millard Fillmore. The 1855 Territorial Legislature was the only full session held in this Statehouse.  In 1858 it was returned to Salt Lake.
The building had many uses over the years, legislature hall, jail, theater, school and a hiding place for the Deseret News press during the Utah war.

Many interesting things and people pictures on display.  I found the following to be interesting:

A fluting iron used for Hair Crimper and  Noodle Cutter.
Adds a little different perspective.

Nail Clippers, Wick Trimmer, Mustache Trimmer.
All caught very neatly!!

 Over due for lunch we stopped at Cluff's Car Hop Cafe'.  Preferring not to eat in the car we went inside for burgers and fries.

View of half of the seating, all surrounded by
50's to 70's memorabilia.
I am busy reading all I can.

Cutie!!

A long day. Glad to get back home by 3.  We sure do not have the endurance that we once had, but then we have six days a week that we can sight see!!
Sorry this is so long, but I do not feel up to doing two separate Blogs.