Show Keeping Utah's Utah s heritage alive alive Jessica Gonzales Staff Reporter Last week on July 24 celebrated Pioneer Day in commemoration of the Mormon pioneers entry into the Wasatch valley in 1847 Events to celebrate the occasion occurred all around the state but one in particular gave individuals a unique and enriching experience that rivals the average parade and festival This Is The Place Heritage Park located just before the mouth of Emigration Canyon celebrated their annual Pioneer festival that occurred from July 24 The park which sits on acres allows attendees to step years back into the past and catch a glimpse of pioneer life with the help of interpreters and volunteers dressed in century attire Its a real living history experience said Rod Clifford spokesperson nerson of the Heritage park r 1 r n Were not a museum with velvet ropes and glass cases This Is The Place Heritage Park was named in 1996 to help celebrate the Utah's centennial year It wasn't until the that the park began to receive more notice in Utah legislation Grants and outside funding helped to establish replicas of century homes and work areas used by bythe bythe bythe the pioneers that were built allaround all allaround around Utah Today the park has grown with 46 buildings with numerous staff and volunteers In 2007 the park saw a surge in its attendance which tripled since the pr previous year Brian Westover the Head Interpreter and blacksmith atthe at atthe atthe the Heritage park states that the attendance for the year has shot up 60 percent Westover attributes the increase in visitors to the advertisements being displayed for the park Were out there more than ever before said Westover People are talking about it More and more people are finding out that were we're here Planning for the event first took place six months ahead of the festival Just recently a motorized ed model train was put in to help visitors experience the park This terrain makes It t very difficult for the very young and the very old said Clifford One of the purposes of it is to make it easier to get around to the park Events for each day began in the early afternoon and provided plenty of fun for kids with activities Pony rides a watermelon eating contest and a community parade catered to the children Historical interpret interpreters rs located within the replicated buildings answered questions from curious and guests about pioneer customs way of living Stephen Simons recalls first attending the Pioneer Festival when he was younger with his his family in the Fast forwarding to present day Simons now has two sons and finds the historical lesson displayed at the This Is The Place Heritage Park important for his children to learn It is part of who we are as said Simons Its Heritage Continued on r r Utah Heritage Continued from A t I necessary to keep our heritage alive and preserve it so that there will be a legacy for my kids and future to keep The tradition of the raising flag-raising in the town square was the main event during the festival Guests watched as a Brigham Young interpreter spoke of the first sights of the Salt Lake Valley The ceremony was completed with music from the pioneer choir to accompany the celebration of Utah's settlement My kids are unable to get this type of demonstration anywhere else said Simons Its just as much of a treat for me as it is for them Overall attendance peaked just over last weekend Clifford credits the unique offerings that only the Heritage Park offers to native We want people to come away with an appreciation said Clifford And This Is The Place Heritage Park allows you to do that For events hours and more information about This Is The Place Heritage Park you can visit their at a. a r A i 7 r y yr T r I i s w ti r l t a 4 7 r 1 i I 1 L r n All AH photos by Jessica Gonzales |