This Is the Place Heritage Park sits at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, where the first pioneer wagon companies emerged from the mountains in July 1847 and looked down on the Salt Lake Valley. Tradition holds that Brigham Young, ill from mountain fever and lying in a wagon, said that this was the right place, and the park takes its name from that moment. A large monument at the entrance, dedicated in 1947 on the centennial, honors the pioneers, the trappers who preceded them and the Native peoples who lived in the valley long before, and it is a sobering and well-composed introduction to the story. Beyond the monument lies Old Deseret Village, a living-history museum of restored and reconstructed pioneer-era buildings, where costumed interpreters work in shops, homes and a farm. You can watch a blacksmith, visit a one-room school, try your hand at a pioneer game, and see how families lived during the early years of the settlement. A miniature train, a petting farm, a mercantile and a pony ride make it a favorite for families, and special events through the year add festivals, reenactments and seasonal celebrations.
The living-history approach has real strengths. Most travelers know the pioneer story only as a headline, and the village adds the daily detail: how a family cooked on an open hearth, how a blacksmith shaped tools, how a farmer irrigated a desert valley with hand-dug ditches, what children learned in school, what they played with. Interpreters in period clothes answer questions in character or out of it, and the best of them are knowledgeable and funny. The experience is hands-on enough that children stay engaged, and quiet enough that adults who like history can linger.
The park also holds the Native American story in view. Exhibits and programs acknowledge the Shoshone, Ute and Paiute peoples who lived in the valley before the pioneers and whose lives were permanently altered by the settlement. This is an important counterweight to the celebratory tone of the monument, and visitors who make time for it will leave with a fuller picture. A number of the historic buildings were moved here from elsewhere in Utah, which adds variety: homes, a bank, a church, a general store and a fort among them.
Practical sense
The park is open seasonally, with the fullest programs in the warm months and a reduced schedule in winter, so check the calendar before you go. Special events, from a summer pioneer-day festival to autumn harvest celebrations and a holiday lights evening, are worth timing a visit around. Expect to walk on gravel and dirt paths, and bring sun protection in summer since shade is limited. Allow two to three hours, more with children who want to ride the train and visit the animals.
Because the park is close to the Hogle Zoo and the Natural History Museum, it makes a natural third stop in a family day on the east side, and a short drive from downtown makes it an easy half-day outing. Dress for dust and sun, bring a water bottle, and ask interpreters about their crafts; many are happy to demonstrate weaving, woodworking or cooking, and the best conversations usually start with a simple question about how something was made.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a monument and a living-history village with costumed interpreters, shops, farm animals and a miniature train.
Best time
Spring through early fall for the full program; special event days for festivals and reenactments.
How long
Two to three hours.
Tips
Check the seasonal calendar, wear walking shoes for gravel paths, and bring sun protection in summer.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and history lovers who want the pioneer story made tangible.
- Families
- Hands-on crafts, a train, animals and costumed characters hold children's attention.
- Couples
- Quieter in the shoulder seasons, with fine valley views from the monument.
- Pair with
- Hogle Zoo, the Natural History Museum or Red Butte Garden.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
What is the significance of the name?+
Tradition says Brigham Young said it was the right place on first seeing the valley in 1847. The monument marks the spot.
Is it open year-round?+
With a reduced schedule in winter. The fullest programs run in the warm months, so check the calendar.
Is it good for children?+
Yes. A train, a farm, crafts and costumed interpreters make it one of the best family stops in the valley.
Does it cover Native history?+
Yes, exhibits and programs acknowledge the Shoshone, Ute and Paiute peoples who lived in the valley before the pioneers.
How long should I plan?+
Two to three hours, more with young children who want to ride and visit animals.