Origins of Pioneer Day

“This is the right place,” were the words uttered in 1847 by Brigham Young as covered wagons carrying men women and children and their meager belongings entered into what is now known as the Salt Lake Valley on July 24. Pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were led from Nauvoo to the West by their leader Brigham Young in search of religious freedom. 

Getting right to work planting crops and building homes, the pioneers were very industrious. It was two years later when they finally took the time to celebrate. The first celebration was held on July 24, 1849. Brigham Young led a procession from his home to a Bowery on Temple Square where a devotional and music were presented concluding with a feast. This small celebration grew over the years being referred to as simply Pioneer Day.

In 1857, when federal troops occupied the Utah territory, Pioneer Day celebrations were almost non-existent, until 1862, when Lincoln introduced a hands-off policy in Utah, and celebrations resumed as normal, extending to the Intermountain West. 

Four notable years in the history of Pioneer Day were:

1896, 48 years after Mormon pioneers reached the valley, Utah Territory became a state, celebrating Pioneer Day as a state for the first time. 

1947 was the centennial of the arrival of the pioneers to the valley. To celebrate 100 years, “This is the Place Monument” was dedicated at the mouth of Immigration Canyon signifying Brigham Young’s famous declaration, “This is the right place.” 

1997 marked the sesquicentennial of the pioneer’s arrival to the Salt Lake Valley. A three-month-long journey began on April 21, when a wagon train left Omaha Nebraska to re-enact the journey the Mormon pioneers made across the mid-west, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on July 22. 

Even during the bleakest times in American History, such as World War I, the Spanish Flu epidemic, the Great Depression, and Word War II the people of Utah continued to celebrate Pioneer Day albeit a bit scaled back.

The large parade, originally known as “Covered Wagon Days Parade” from 1931 until the 1940s when it evolved into the Days of ’47 Parade, still draws large crowds in downtown Salt Lake City. The popular parade has only been canceled twice, once in 1943 because of the war, and in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. That year, all events for Pioneer Day were canceled.

Since 2021, Days of ‘47 events have been reinstated including the Days of ’47 parade in Salt Lake City, along with the rodeo, marathon and fireworks, hosted by the Days of ’47 organization. Ogden City hosted its annual parade, rodeo, and concert. Bountiful City hosted their annual Handcart Days on July 19. Fireworks, light parades and drone shows celebrated the day throughout Utah. 

Morgan may not host organized activities for Pioneer Day, but many residents still take the day off to come together with family and celebrate their pioneer heritage with picnics and BBQs and 

camping, with some traveling to see parades and firework displays. However, Hinds Country Store celebrated Pioneer Day with Pie; those who wore pioneer garb were served their pie a la mode. For dinner, they served shepherd’s pie. A cow pie toss and a pie-eating contest rounded out the celebration.

While Pioneer Day did start out as a “Mormon Holiday” it has turned into a day that everyone, regardless of relgion can enjoy. As a counterculture response to what some still dub a religious holiday, a small group in 2014 began celebrating “Pie and Beer Day” as a play on the word pioneer, instead of celebrating traditional Pioneer Day. λ