The collection of photographs in this picture gallery includes both modern and historical images. They have been chosen to inform the eye and mind about historic trails and trails-related activities for all those interested in our region's overland routes.

You can expect this gallery to grow with new exhibitions of both casual modern photographs and significant historical photographs. Check back often to see the latest views from the trails. Last update 04/12/07.

We invite contributions to our collection. For further information or if you have pictures that you would like to share here, please contact the Utah Crossroads Webmasters.

Most of the historical photographs in the Utah Crossroads Picture Gallery are from the extensive collection of the Utah State Historical Society. All such photographs are used by permission, Utah State Historical Society, all rights reserved. The Society can be contacted as follows:

Utah State Historical Society
300 Rio Grande
Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1182

Phone: (801) 533-3535
Fax: (801) 533-3504
World Wide Web: Utah History Home Page

Our thanks to the staff of the Society for its expertise and helpfulness in making available the informative historical photographs used here.

Photograph Exhibitions

The collection consists of many photographs brought together into several exhibitions on separate themes. Select from the list below to see miniature "thumbnail" versions of the full-size images in the exhibition. Then click on a thumbnail to see the larger image, photographer, when and where the photograph was made and an explanation of the subject.

1897 and 1997 Mormon Trail Wagon Train Re-enactments

July 1897 and July 1997. As part of the Sesquicentennial (150 years) Celebration of the Mormon Trail, a re-enactment wagon train, handcart company, walkers and riders retraced the Mormons' route. The modern photographs were made in Wyoming and Utah toward the end of the trek. One hundred years before, for the Silver Jubilee Celebration, there was a re-enactment as well.

 

Sesquicentennial of the Mormon Trail - Chapter Field Trip

August 23/24, 1997. This trip took participants from Fort Bridger, Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah over the course of two days. Because of OCTA's and Utah Crossroads' prestige and reputation for responsibility as well as the personal influence of individual chapter members, it was possible to gain access to many stretches of trail on private land that have had to be closed to casual visitors.

 

Route of the First Transcontinental Railroad - Chapter Field Trip

October 18, 1997 - Includes historical photographs. This trip began with visits to traces along the Utah-Nevada border of a route pioneered by the Bidwell-Bartelson party of 1841 and later traveled by both famous and forgotten users of the Hastings Cutoff west of the great salt desert. The highlight was driving over 90 miles of the original 1869 Transcontinental Railroad grade.

The Hastings Cutoff from Grantsville, Utah to Donner Spring, Utah

VIRTUAL TOUR of the trail. This exhibition of 30 photographs is a companion piece to a home page on the Hastings Trail by Roy D. Tea, accessible in our Members' Pages section. Includes historical photographs. This 100-mile section of the Hastings Trail began with excellent water and forage but before delivering exhausted and suffering humans and animals at Donner Spring at the base of Pilot Peak it crossed 80 miles of waterless desert, much of it a vast salt mud flat devoid of life. The trail often claimed stock, property and wagons from the pioneers who toiled across it.

 

Trail Marking

We have added an interesting gallery of pictures depicting some of the chapter's trail marking activities. Thumbnails and brief descriptions are at the bottom of the Trail Marking page.