The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA) is a federally designated

National Heritage Area In the United States, a National Heritage Area (NHA) is a site designated by Act of Congress, intended to encourage historic preservation of the area and an appreciation of the history and heritage of the site. There are currently 62 NHAs, some ...

that recognizes and commemorates the efforts of Mormon pioneers who made the trek westward, settling

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

and the American West. Spanning a 400-mile area along

U.S. Highway 89 U.S. Route 89 (US 89) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway with two sections, and one former section. The southern section runs for from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The northern section ...

Utah State Route 24 State Route 24 (SR-24) is a state highway in south central Utah which runs south from Salina through Sevier County then east through Wayne County and north east through Emery County. At a total of 163.294 miles (262.796 km), it is the longest ...

and

Utah State Route 12 State Route 12 or Scenic Byway 12 (SR-12), also known as ''"Highway 12 — A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway"'', is a state highway designated an All-American Road located in Garfield County and Wayne County, Utah, United States. Route descr ...

– an All American Road – the MPNHA encompasses five unique districts, each with its own distinct history and landmarks. According to its mission statement, the MPNHA "preserves, interprets, promotes, and enhances Utah's pioneer heritage…working to increase tourism, encourage economic development, revitalize communities, provide heritage educational opportunities, and improve the quality of life" within its districts. Furthermore, the area was formulated around three central themes: the interaction of people with the landscape, the interaction of people with each other and the interaction of people with the institutions they created. The National Heritage Area offers one of the best perspectives of the Mormon colonization experience in the United States. It has been identified by Congress as a factor in the settling and western expansion of the United States.

History

The MPNHA was established by legislation introduced by former Utah Senator Bob Bennett, which, as he said at the time, intended to preserve "the rich heritage and tremendous achievements of the Mormon Pioneers." (Insert link) His bill was passed by Congress in July 2006 and signed into law by President George W. Bush in October of the same year. In 2010, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior approved a management plan that has funded restoration and revitalization projects heritage area.

Projects

The MPNHA works with the travel councils to realize its goal to preserve the history of both the early Mormon Pioneers as well as other groups who settled central and southern Utah, including the Native Americans, namely the Piute and Ute tribes, highlighting the diversity of the area. The area also produces the Discovery Road television program, which airs on a number of Utah television stations, including the Utah Educational Network.

Districts

The five districts that make up the MPNHA include the sceni
Boulder Loop
which contains

Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon National Park () is an American national park located in southwestern Utah. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon, which despite its name, is not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern ...

, The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Anasazi State Park. Th
Headwaters
encompassing Garfield, Piute and Wayne Counties provide ample opportunities for fishing and historical exploration, being the childhood home of famed outlaw Butch Cassidy
Little Denmark
In Sanpete County, explores the area's Scandinavian heritage. The district also contains the historic

Manti Temple Manti or Manty may refer to: Places * Manti, Iowa, a defunct Mormon settlement * Manti, Utah, a city, named for the city of Manti in the Book of Mormon * Manti National Forest, formerly Manti Forest Reserve, in Colorado and Utah * Manti (crater), ...

, where the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant was held annually until the summer of 2019
Sevier Valley
hearkens back to the days of the old west, with families of ranchers and cowboys who have worked their families' land for generations. Finally, th
Under the Rim
district in Kane County is home to

Zion National Park Zion National Park is an American national park located in southwestern Utah near the town of Springdale. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park has a unique geography and a variety of ...

, which attracts 3.5 million visitors per-year.

References

External links

*
MPNHA official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Geography of Garfield County, Utah Geography of Kane County, Utah National Heritage Areas of the United States Geography of Piute County, Utah Geography of Sanpete County, Utah Geography of Sevier County, Utah Geography of Wayne County, Utah History of the Rocky Mountains Mormon Trail Protected areas established in 2006 2006 establishments in Utah Protected areas of Garfield County, Utah Protected areas of Kane County, Utah Protected areas of Piute County, Utah Protected areas of Sanpete County, Utah Protected areas of Sevier County, Utah Protected areas of Wayne County, Utah

History

Projects

Districts

See also

References

External links