The Mormon Trek to Salt Lake City Began in the Heartland

During the summer of 1856, approximately 1300 members of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" (known as Mormon's) began an arduous trip of almost 1400 miles to Salt Lake City, Utah. They began the first of many days of their journey in Iowa City, Iowa. At that time in history, Iowa City was the end of the railroad west for these pioneers and thus their trek with another form of transportation began. After disembarking the train and finding much of their belongings had not arrived, travelers set up camp at nearby Clear Creek, to begin planning for the long trip ahead. The first thing on the mind of these travelers was transportation for the journey.

The form of transportation I am speaking of is a handcart. These carts were small and very simple. They were built in Iowa City for these men, women and children to hold 17 pounds of personal items needed for the long journey ahead. Built one handcart for every five people, it is believed there were over 2,600 of these handcarts, which began the long trip west.

The carts were simple in design, a basic box like affair, with two wooden wheels between three and four feet in diameter. With two shafts attached to the sides and secured near the rear of this cart, it could be pushed or pulled over the land before them as they made their way to Salt Lake City.

As these carts were designed to hold less than 20 lbs of personal belongings for an average family, hard choices had to be made as to what to take along for the trip. When one thinks that the average suitcase checked on a plane weighs 50 lbs, it is mind boggling to imagine what was taken to meet the meager requirements of this cart.

Although each family unit had their own cart, there also were several wagons with essentials traveling with the groups as well. Oxen drew these wagons and a small number of tents were carried as well, approximately 1 tent per 20 people was also taken on this journey. However it should be noted, that the Mormon travelers, were responsible for their own belongings on this trip and thus had to make some hard choices as to what to take for the long trip ahead.

As this trip by Mormon settlers is such an important part of the history of Iowa City and nearby Coralville, there are many indications that residents are proud of their place in history. Coralville's St. Morrison Park is host to a granite boulder with bronze plaque honoring those who began their journey nearby Clear Creek as well as another such honor in street "Mormon Trek" a north/ south street with many hills and dips throughout its path in Iowa City.

Modern travelers today feel a sense of awe when driving this street remembering that though they travel it from north to south in mere minutes, those traveling to the west, made trips over terrain much like it today, taking much longer.

One of the newest memorials honoring the handcart trek is a replica of a Knaphus statue nearby a Marriott hotel and conference center. This statue is amazing in it's detail and was approved by the Salt Lake city-based Mormon Historic sites Foundation. Since 1945, a life size statue (nearly twice the size of the original created in 1926) of this same family and their cart has been in place in front of the temple in Salt Lake City. This statue erected in Coralville, Iowa is a copy of that original work and nearby is the Johnson County Historical Society, which was opened to the public in September of 2006. In this museum is a full size diorama of a typical handcart family as they began their journey over 150 years ago.

To live in this area of Iowa is unique as one can clearly see the busy Interstate 80, the main interstate which runs from the west coast to the east, connecting one side of the U.S. to the other, from the statue itself. The feeling of being so close to the historic beginnings of the Mormon people as they began their trek, is sobering when one sees how far transportation has come in a little over 150 years.

To think of all them men and women who traveled those long back breaking miles from Iowa City to make their way to Salt Lake City is amazing. The journey must have been hard, treacherous and somewhat daunting, but the truth of the matter is, they did it. These men, women and children showed strength of character few have shown since. They knew the journey was a long and dangerous one, yet they set out and a great number of them made it to Salt Lake City and their new home.

Iowa City is a proud part of that journey so many years ago, of helping them begin their trip with strong handcarts, prayers and good wishes. And to see the Knaphus statue is a sobering experience. To stand so close to these life size figures of a man, woman, small boy and baby girl causes one to really feel some of the anticipation these people were facing as well as seeing first hand a depiction of a cart which was much like the ones used at that time. It is a statue one must see firsthand as images simply do not do it justice. to see the time and workworn hands of the man, the concern etching the face of the woman for the journey ahead, the determination far more mature than the young age on the boy and the innocence of the child, brings to life these travelers from so long ago.

Should you wish to learn more about this amazing artist please check the link

The original statue can be seen here.

And should you wish to learn more about the Mormon Trek across the country over 150 years ago here is some information on the historic

Mormon Handcart Pioneers.

Here is some information as well about the Sesquicentennial celebration of the original trip these pioneers made in their journey to Salt Lake City, Utah.