November 2010

One of the most fascinating periods in Western American folklore is the mountain man era. At Fort Buenaventura, located just west of the city center, that exciting era is brought back to life, where authentic artifacts are on display. Fort Buenaventura has been constructed on the original site of the fort that was built in 1845 by Miles Goodyear and his wife.

This 1876 church is now a museum with a photographs collection and docent-led tours.

The seven Fisher brothers built the Fisher Building as a home for Fisher and Company, which had pioneered in making the closed automobile body. The brothers chose the best materials, the best location, and the best architect, who, in turn, engaged the most talented sculptors, modelers, decorators, and craftsmen as collaborators. The soaring Fisher Building exterior bears a striking resemblance to Eliel Saarinen's Chicago Tribune Tower design of 1922. Kahn begins with an arcaded basement unit similar to the one he used in the earlier General Motors Building. Above that, however, the vertical piers rise unbroken to a tapered top, reflecting in dramatic terms the change in attitude toward high-rise design that was signaled by Saarinen's Tribune Tower.

Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park Museum is Utah's link with the Civil War. The quiet streets of Fairfield hold the secrets of 3,500 troops, nearly one-third of the entire U.S. Army at that time, which were brought to Camp Floyd to suppress the rumored rebellion in Utah. With no rebellion taking place, the troops were recalled in 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War.

There are three historic buildings on site. Camp Floyd was built by the army in 1858 as a military equipment and provisions store; the Stagecoach Inn was built in 1858 as well, by John Carson as a hotel, and was restored from shambles in 1959; and the Fairfield District Schoolhouse was built in 1898 after Utah gained statehood.

This historic home contains Victorian and early pioneer style furnishings, including originals. Floors, woodwork, walls and doors have been restored. Daily tours are led by Latter-Day Saints missionary couples as part of St. George Temple Visitors' Center and Historic Sites Mission.

“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States—the Great Emancipator and preserver of the nation during the Civil War—sits immortalized in marble. As an enduring symbol of Freedom, the Lincoln Memorial attracts anyone who seeks inspiration and hope.

The fossils, rocks, hills, and valleys that make up Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument reveal to us an ancient story of redwood forests, volcanic eruptions, and a climate much different than today. In addition to a rich ancient history, the Florissant valley also contains the stories of prehistoric hunting and gathering Paleo-Indians, the Ute and Jicarilla Apache peoples, the travels of a pioneer nation, and of early scientists making their way through discovery into a different time.

Displacing more than 44,500 tons, the USS ALABAMA measures 680 feet from stem to stern, half as long as the Empire State Building is tall. Armed with nine, 16-inch guns in three turrets and 20, 5-inch, .38-caliber guns in 10 twin mounts, her main batteries could fire shells as heavy as a small car accurately for a distance of more than 20 miles.

Her steel side armor was a foot thick above the waterline, tapering to one half inch at the bottom. Her four propellers, each weighing more than 18 tons, could drive her through the seas at up to 28 knots, more than 32 miles per hour. Loaded with 7,000 tons of fuel oil, her range was about 15,000 nautical miles. The USS ALABAMA was built to fight.

The Silver Valley is the richest silver mining region in the world. In just one hundred twenty years, over 1.1 billion ounces of silver have been produced from mines in this valley. The museum captures the impact of mining history with artifacts and exhibits depicting the hardships, toils and home life of the period. An exhibit of photographs and commissioned paintings helps bring the reality of those early days to light. A selection of video programs are shown daily in the thirty seat theater on a four by six foot projection TV system.

Since Congress created the United States Mint on April 2, 1792, it has grown tremendously. The United States Mint receives more than $1 billion in annual revenues. As a self-funded agency, the United States Mint turns revenues beyond its operating expenses over to the General Fund of the Treasury.