MONUMENTS & MARKERS

CHIMNEY ROCK MARKER

Plaque memorializing the Pioneers coming through the area. States that Porter Rockwell first spotted Chimney Rock for the vanguard company.

PORTER'S ROCK

Between Guernsey and Douglas, the trail is difficult to follow. The very curious will want to visit Porter’s Rock, named for Porter Rockwell, located near the center of Platte County, north of Cottonwood Creek, but detailed maps and rough-terrain vehicles are necessary.  One can drive up Mormon Canyon about a quarter of a mile to see the rocky bluffs which Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball scrambled up when they saw a mother grizzly bear ambling toward them. 

DAUGHTER OF UTAH PIONEERS MUSEUM - SALT LAKE CITY

Imported shawl given by Porter Rockwell to his wife Mary Ann.

SALT LAKE CITY CEMETERY

Grave of Orrin Porter Rockwell. Inscription reads, "he was brave and loyal to his faith, true to the prophet Jos. Smith, a promise made him by the prophet thro obedience it was fulfilled."

THIS IS THE PLACE HERITAGE STATE PARK

Mahonri M. Young, a grandson of Brigham Young, designed and sculpted the "This is the Place" Monument. With more than 50,000 people in attendance, the completed monument was dedicated July 24, 1947. The monument cost more than $450,000 and is one of the largest of its kind, standing 60 feet tall and 86 feet long . . . Nine horsemen entered the Salt Lake Valley on the morning of July 22, 1847; this event is depicted by panels on the monument. On the north side are Orson Pratt, Orrin Porter Rockwell, Joseph Matthews and Erastus Snow. On the south side: John Brown, Jesse C. Little, George A. Smith, an unidentified pioneer and John Pack.

FIRST ENCAMPMENT PARK

Memorial to those who first entered Valley.

NEFF'S MILL

Although this marker doesn't specifically mention Porter Rockwell, his father in law John Neff owned and operated the first grist mill in the Valley. Porter and Mary Ann Neff lived for a time at this site. This brought him great respect from his in-laws in his contributions to the family in general labors of operating and maintaining the mill, and gave him a place to escape city life up in the mountains. 

Pioneer Robert Gardner wrote in his journal of the time he was working up Mill Creek Canyon and had a serious accident. A log struck his leg and peeled a big chunk of flesh off right to the bone. Painfully, and with some fear because of the amount of blood he was losing, he made his way to Father Neff's at the mouth of the canyon, where he called out for help. Porter came out to offer assistance. Porter applied liquor directly to the wound and then helped Gardner into the Neff home and had him sit near the fire. He washed Gardner's leg and got a handful of fine salt and laid it on the bone. Then he pulled the flesh back up over it and sewed it closed with a needle and some silk thread. When the wound was closed, Rockwell bandaged it with a flannel cloth-thus saving Robert Gardner's leg and possibly his life.

PORTER ROCKWELL TRAIL

Lauritz Smith, a faithful member of the Church and resident of Draper was eating dinner with President Brigham Young one night. Brigham complimented Maren on her cooking and asked if she would be willing to provide meals for his bodyguard who was often riding through the area on Church business, namely Orrin Porter Rockwell. She happily agreed and Rockwell subsequently used the Smiths' farm fields as a hideout when seeking protection from his enemies. A child of Lauritz recounted the experience of taking a pot of stew to the pasture, leaving it, and then returning for the empty pot on a regular basis, not knowing why or who it was for.

106TH SOUTH OVERPASS - RELIEF PANEL

WEST SIDE OF 123RD SOUTH ON-RAMP, DRAPER, UT   |   GPS: 40°31'35.8"N 111°53'29.5"W

FIRST STATEWIDE PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION MARKER 

Located very near the site of Porter Rockwell's Hot Springs Brewery Hotel. What is considered the West's first "truck stop," Porter originally established it as a way stop for soldiers going back forth from the City to Camp Floyd. It soon morphed into a tavern with high-grade California whiskey, a hotel, a Pony Express Station, horse stables, and much more. Now it features a large statue of Porter (that used to sit just up the road), the Rockwell Station Pony Express Marker (that used to sit near the site of the old State Prison entrance) , and new plaques.

EARLY SETTLERS OF UTAH PLAQUE

Memorializing Porter Rockwell settling this area.

LEHI PARK PORTER ROCKWELL STATUE

Stanley Wanlass's staue of "The Defender."

HUTCHINS MUSEUM COLLECTION

In the Old West room of the Museum; Saddle, Guns and Other Artifacts belonging to Porter Rockwell on display.

JOE'S DUGOUT MEMORIAL

Memorializing Porter Rockwell killing outlaw. Richard Van Wagoner’s history book on Lehi mentions that Porter Rockwell believed that the dry well, and area around it was haunted. It references a Salt Lake Tribune article from June 11, 1878, written several days after the death of Porter Rockwell on June 9, 1878. The article states that Porter Rockwell did not like to pass Dorton’s Well. “This Place he firmly believed to be haunted by evil spirits, who delighted in bringing trouble upon him or his horses every time he passed. He used to tell that on one occasion when he was passing this well with a band of wild mustangs some 30 of his animals fell down on the road sick. He directed his man to split the tail of each sick horse, put some of the blood of each on a wisp of straw which he set fire to and burned. This rite, broke the spell of the witches, the horses immediately recovered, and he went on his way rejoicing.” He continues that the reason for this was, “As an explanation of these high unusual situations, Porter told his hired men that years before ‘five or six men had been buried’ in the well and ‘hence it was only necessity that ever compelled him to pass that way'”.
At another time, Porter Rockwell pursued an outlaw. He was told in Cedar Fort that the outlaw was headed towards Joe's Dugout. Arriving, Porter knocked at the door and the door was opened by the outlaw who immediately pulled his six-shooter and fired directly at Rockwell, emptying the gun. An observer said that he could see the fire from the exploding gun powder enter Rockwell's chest from one side and exit the other. With an empty pistol and Rockwell still standing, the outlaw threw down his gun and started running up the hill to get away. Porter Rockwell sauntered to his buckboard, took his rifle and fired one shot at the fleeing outlaw. He dropped dead. A bit perturbed at the outlaw's audacity to shoot at him, Porter threw his body into the well.

DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS MUSEUM - PROVO

Hat of Porter Rockwell on Display.

PORTER ROCKWELL CABIN

Cabin moved from Litte Sahara Ranch, “Rockwell Station” Restaurant is close by.

ROCKWELL RANCH

Rockwell lived in the saddle. Regardless of all the services Porter rendered to his friends and the Church, he became quite independent financially. As a rancher and stockman he was very capable. The foresight he used in selecting his ranch in Skull Valley is still commented on by Israel Bennion, a neighbor. In the early 1860's Israel's father, John Bennion, Porter Rockwell, and fifteen other men explored the south end of Rush, Skull, and adjoining valleys for herd ground purposes. Porter chose Government Creek in Skull Valley and established a notable ranch. In commenting on his choice, Porter later said, "John, for a cattle ranch you want a place where you can track'em out."
"As a boy," remarks Israel Bennion, "I with others rode and camped at round-up times with the Rockwell outfit. 'Old Port' was a good neighbor, a picturesque, stately rider. 'Them was mighty bully days,' as Teddy Roosevelt used to say. There were grass, fat cattle, and fine horses. Having heard stories, my home folk were a little 'leery' of our neighbor, but for me, I thought he was just fine—despite his long hair neatly done up at the back, and his high, squeaky voice. Aside from Porter's fondness for whisky, I was glad to hear my conservative father's comment: 'After all, Old Port is, was, and will be always loyal to the kingdom.' "