Historic Cove Fort History & Information

DIRECTIONS:

COVE FORT IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF INTERSTATE 15 AND 70, 72 MILES NORTH OF CEDAR CITY. TAKE I-70 EAST, EXIT 1 TOWARDS COVE FORT.

HISTORY:

IN 1847, THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS CONSTRUCTED COVE FORT TO OFFER SHELTER AND REFRESHMENT TO TRAVELERS. MANY PIONEERS WERE SEEKING SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS STRETCHING FROM IDAHO TO CALIFORNIA. COVE FORT PROVIDED RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND ALLOWED TRAVELERS TO WORSHIP IN PEACE. THE FORT IS COMPRISED OF LAVA ROCK 4 FEET THICK, AND 18.5 FEET IN HEIGHT. IN 1857, BRIGHAM YOUNG REQUESTED THAT IRA HINCKLEY AND HIS FAMILY RELOCATE TO MANAGE OPERATIONS AT COVE FORT. THIS IS THE ONLY FORT CONSTRUCTED BY THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN THE 1800'S THAT STILL STANDS TODAY.

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HISTORIC COVE FORT OFFERS TOURS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, FREE OF CHARGE. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND VISITING THIS SITE, AS IT IS A MERE 2 MINUTE DETOUR. ABOVE ARE PICTURES OF THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR. THE STONE BUILDING DEPICTED IN THE 4TH PIC IS THE ORIGINAL BLACKSMITH SHOP.

POSTAL CARRIERS VISITING THE FORT WERE PERMITTED TO STAY FREE OF CHARGE IN PRIVATE QUARTERS. NOTICE THE DESK IN THE PICTURES, WHICH THE MAIL CARRIERS UTILIZED TO DISPATCH LETTERS TO THE MAIN OFFICE. COVE FORT WAS A DAILY STOP FOR TWO STAGECOACH LINES, AND THEREBY HOUSED NEARLY 75 PEOPLE AT ANY TIME. COSTS FOR A BED WERE .50 CENTS. IN THE LAST PICTURE, A DATE IS SEWN ON THE CORNER OF THE BLANKET. IT WAS CONSIDERED TRADITION TO DATE THE BLANKETS AS THEY WERE CREATED.