Iron Mission State Park

About Iron Mission State Park

The Iron Mission Museum tells the story of how Iron County was formed when Brigham Young sent Mormons there to mine iron in the 1850s. The museum is located in Cedar City, and there is a picnic area, but there are no tents or tents.

When iron deposits were discovered in southern Utah, Mormon leader Brigham Young called on volunteers to colonize the Iron Mission area. When the pioneers settled in Utah in 1847, iron deficiency was rife.

Ten months later, construction of a small blast furnace was completed, and according to the Utah Department of Mines, the ironworks were completed in November 1851.

Despite its initial success, the Iron Mission faced many difficulties, and the harsh conditions of the Great Depression and its impact on the local economy took their toll. In addition, crop failures threatened to starve the city of Salt Lake City and the rest of Utah.

The foundry was eventually closed in 1858, and about three decades ago, the City of Salt Lake City and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recognized the need to preserve the Iron Mission and its historic importance to the city and the state of Utah. They asked Union Pacific to donate their warehouse space to the development of a historic park. People have overcome these obstacles with the help of local businesses and volunteers, as well as the support of the local community.

The railroad had other ideas for the site, but an alternative was found and with elected officials the Eisenmission State Park Museum was founded in July 1973. The current museum was opened in 1980 and houses a collection of artifacts and artefacts from the original foundry.

Over the years, other programs and activities have been added, such as groundbreaking arts and crafts demonstrations, changing art exhibitions, and curatorial tours. Named after the pioneering iron industry that created the first railroads in the United States and one of the first steel mills in the world, the park has grown and expanded with the addition of horse-drawn vehicles and other recreational activities, as well as the creation of a visitor center.

Iron Mission also operates an iron foundry west of Cedar City, which operated from 1860 to the 1970s. For more information, call the museum's visitor desk at (801) 684-5555 or visit the park's website at ironmission.org.