pioneer trek west

Mormonism in Pictures: Pioneers’ Trek West

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“Mormonism in Pictures” is a photo essay feature from MormonNewsroom.org depicting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members around the world. 

This week, as Latter-day Saints and others remember Mormon pioneers' inaugural journey to Utah in July 1847, we feature photos related to that pioneer trek west. Pioneer Day in Utah is held 24 July in honor of the first group of Mormon pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley through Emigration Canyon between 22 and 24 July 1847.

The historic trek of the Mormon pioneers in the mid to late 1840s was an event that helped shape the development of the American West.

Echo Canyon, circa 1866

An 1866 party of pioneers in Echo Canyon east of the Salt Lake Valley

Not all early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were rugged frontiersmen who regularly camped under the stars. They were also shop owners, craftsmen, farmers, cabinet makers, teachers, mill workers, builders and blacksmiths.

Nauvoo Mansion House

The Mansion House in Nauvoo, Illinois

Latter-day Saints went west to escape religious persecution. They left behind comfortable homes and profitable farms and braved the 1,300-mile journey across the plains under sweltering sun and in freezing winter storms. 

Handcart family

An illustration of a father trying to start a fire to feed his starving family

One of the many compelling stories of faith of the pioneers is that of Mary Fielding Smith, the widow of Hyrum Smith (President Joseph Smith’s brother), and her son  Joseph F. Smith  (sixth president of the Church from 1901 to 1918).

Mary Fielding Smith

This painting depicts future president of the Church Joseph F. Smith leading a yoke of oxen with his mother, Mary Fielding Smith

They were traveling across the plains in a covered wagon pulled by a yoke of oxen. Young Joseph, about eight years old, recalled that after the oxen became ill, his mother prayed that the animals might arise and move forward, and “to the astonishment of all who saw,” they “got up and we drove along.” Mary Fielding Smith and her family were traveling acros the plains with the first large group of Mormons that arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1847.

Handcart family statue on Temple Square

Mormon handcart pioneer statue on Temple Square honoring those who traveled across the plains to Utah

Mormon Trail marker

Brigham Young is about 49 years old in this 1850 photograph (below). He led the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Rocky Mountains, where he was instrumental in settling not only Salt Lake City but also cities and towns in Utah and throughout the West. He served as Church president from 1847 to 1877 and served for a time as territorial governor and Indian Agent.

Brigham Young

On 24 July 1847, Brigham Young , president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saw the wide Salt Lake Valley from his wagon and declared, “This is the right place. Drive on.”

Entering the Salt Lake Valley

The first group of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley through Emigration Canyon between 22 and 24 July 1847. This vanguard company arrived in July; the first large body of church members arrived in September.

Mormon Pioneer family

Portrait of a pioneer family

The pioneers wasted little time in beginning to settle the valley, beginning immediately to prepare the soil for planting. Because they arrived in mid-summer, the growing season was short.

Oldest house in SLC

One of the oldest houses in Salt Lake City, built in 1847 and owned by Osmyn M. Deuel

The settlers built ditches for irrigation, planted seeds and trees and felled timber in the nearby mountains to build homes.

Ensign Peak

Contemporary view of the Salt Lake Valley from Ensign Peak

Within days of arriving in the valley, they walked up a hill on the north end of the valley (later known as Ensign Peak) to get the lay of the land, explored in nearby canyons, designated the center of the new settlement and selected the spot for the temple.

Building the Salt Lake Temple

Workers construct the Salt Lake Temple (ca. 1870-1880 )

American historian Wallace Stegner wrote about the Mormons, noting that “the story of their [pioneers’] migration is more than the story of the founding of Utah. The Mormons were one of the principal forces in the settlement of the West.”

ZCMI was the first department store west of the Mississippi River

The day the first covered wagons of Latter-day Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley is one of celebration in the Church and was later designated a state holiday.

Pioneer Days Parade in 1897

Parades marking the 24th of July have taken place from 1849 to today, known at different times as the “Pioneer Days Parade,” “Covered Wagon Days,” and the “Days of ’47.”

Pioneer Day Parade

In 1897, 50 years after the Mormon pioneers’ arrival, George Edward Anderson photographed the surviving pioneers of 1847.

Pioneer survivors 1847-1897

This photograph of surviving pioneers of the 1847 trek was taken on 24 July 1897, the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Most pioneers in this photo arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1847 .  The portrait was taken on Temple Square.

In 1997, the Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. The celebration ran from January to July and included such things as a worldwide day of service for members of the Church to help in their communities, concerts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, pioneer exhibits and a two-day program of music and dance.

Then-Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and members of the First Presidency with their wives welcomed the sesquicentennial wagon train after its 1,300-mile trek from Iowa to Salt Lake City.

1997 Sesquicentennial Wagon Train

Perhaps the most elaborate activity of the year was the re-creation of the 1847 wagon train with covered wagons and handcarts. The 1,300-mile trek started in April in Iowa and concluded in Salt Lake City on 22 July 1997. Thousands of people participated in the wagon train, and many walked the entire distance.

President and Sister Monson at Days of '47 Parade

President Thomas S. Monson and his late wife, Frances, enjoy the Days of '47 parade in Salt Lake City 24 July 2006

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Tales from the Trail

Mormon pioneers experienced more than just sorrow and hardship on the trek west. They experienced adventures, miracles, and humorous moments, too. Chris Cox shares some insights into pioneer life using the pioneers’ own words.

Parades, pageants, family gatherings, fireworks, and other celebrations are all part of what is known today as Pioneer Day, or Days of ’47. This official Utah holiday is celebrated throughout the state and in other communities commemorating the 1847 arrival of the first Mormon pioneer company into the Salt Lake Valley.

Most often repeated are the stories of handcart company members who experienced hardship, sacrifice, disaster, and death. However, of the more than 250 organized emigrant companies, only 10 were handcart companies. Most emigrants traveled by wagon train, and many stories of faith, miracles, adventure, and entertainment are also among those of the trail experience.

These excerpts from firsthand accounts provide deeper insight into the experiences, feelings, and understandings of these noble pioneers:

Faith.  Jane C. Robinson, age 27, wrote: “I . . . left home . . . much against my fathers wishes. But I believed in the principle of the gathering and felt it my duty to go although it was a severe trial to me in my feelings to leave . . . but my heart was fixed. I knew in whom I had trusted and with the fire of Isreals God burning in my bosom I forsook my home, but not to gather wealth or the [perishable] things of this world.” 1

Miracles.  Ann J. Rowley, age 48, wrote: “Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God’s help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that were still in my trunk . . . left over from the sea voyage, they were not large, and were so hard, they couldn't be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God’s blessing, then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness.” 2

Adventure.  Mary P. Scott, age 26, wrote: “An English Emmigrant whose sense of smell had left him due to age, was one day hungryly out looking for food, found a strange animal and killed it. . . . (it was furry and black and white) He skinned it and proudly brought it to camp . . . and to his amazement everyone fled as he approached and for some days he was an outcast.” 3

Others found beauty among the great new formations they encountered along the way. Pioneer journals often included sketches and poetry. Appleton Harmon, age 26, created these sketches of Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff in his journal when he emigrated in 1847. 4

Entertainment.  Clarissa D. Young, age 18, wrote: “Songs would be sung, music played by the fiddlers, and the men and women would forget the weariness of walking fifteen miles or so over the trackless desert while they joined in dancing the quadrille.” 5  Aroet Hale, age 20, wrote: “The Young folks had injoyment. Presedent Young and Kimble was Verry kind and indulgent to the Young. They frequently Stop within a Mile or So apart. The Young [young] yould [would] Viset from One Camp to the Other, and frequently would get musick and have a good Dance on the Ground . . . , I formed an acuantance with a Yound [young] Lady Crosing the Plains that I after wards Marr[i]ed . . . So I done My Sparking along the road.” 6

Mary Jane Lytle was 17 years old when she crossed the plains. She later recalled: “I met James A. Little my future husband at the crossing of the Missouri river. . . . When we camped at night, we made big bonfires, and the young folks sang, danced, played games &c &c. We made our own amusement and had a happy Time. young lovers strayed in the moonlight not far from camp, and I suppose repeated the old, old, but never new story.” 7

Humor.  B. H. Roberts recorded this experience that happened when he was nine years old: “The day had been hot . . . and I was decidedly tired, nearly unto exhaustion. . . . I slipped the broad board from the barrel head and conceived the idea of dropping down in the barrel. . . . I discovered when I let [myself] down in the barrel that my feet went into about three or four inches of a sticky . . . molasses. . . . Too tired to attempt [to] climb out, I . . . slipped down and went to sleep doubled up in the bottom of the barrel. . . . As I crawled out [the next morning] . . . with molasses dripping from my trousers, I was greeted . . . with yells and laughter. I crept away as fast as I could to scrape off the syrup . . . for there was no change of clothing for me.” 8

Whether they faced great trials or found adventure on the journey, these heroic pioneer men, women, and children left a great legacy, and each of us “is the beneficiary of their great undertaking.” 9  By reading their own accounts, we can understand more of their journey, and our hearts can be touched so that, as Elder M. Russell Ballard put it, “the fire of true testimony and unwavering love for the Lord and His Church will blaze brightly within each one of us as it did in our faithful pioneers.” 10

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Mormonism in Pictures: Pioneers’ Trek West

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Before the historic 1847 trek of the Mormon pioneers, the early Latter-day Saints gathered from across the Atlantic Ocean to join the westward migration. Prior to heading west, the early Saints settled in several areas in the East, including Kirtland, Ohio.

Kirtland Temple

Always a temple-building people, Mormons built their first temple in northern Ohio, the headquarters of the Church from 1831 until 1838. The Kirtland Temple was dedicated in 1836.

The temple served the members for two years before Church members were forced to abandon the structure and move to Nauvoo, Illinois, due to intense persecution.

Whitney store

Church founder Joseph Smith and his wife Emma lived for a time in the historic Newell K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, which has been restored for visitors to tour.

Nauvoo on the Mississippi River

After suffering from ongoing persecution, the Latter-day Saints left Kirtland and moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and then moved again to Illinois, where they turned unwanted swampland along the Mississippi River into a thriving community named Nauvoo . The city, which became one of the largest cities in Illinois, included approximately 16,000 Mormon residents and was an important center of commerce on the upper Mississippi River.

Joseph & Hyrum Smith on horseback riding into Nauvoo

Continuing the Church’s temple-building efforts, the Latter-day Saints constructed the Nauvoo Temple, but the relative peace and prosperity of the time was short-lived, as mobs killed the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum on June 27, 1844, and then drove the Mormons out.

Brigham Young is about 49 years old in this 1850 photograph. He led the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Rocky Mountains, where he was instrumental in settling not only Salt Lake City but also other cities and towns in Utah and throughout the West. He served as Church president from 1847 to 1877 and served for a time as territorial governor and Indian agent.

The pioneer trek helped shape the development of the American West.

An 1866 party of pioneers in Echo Canyon, east of the Salt Lake Valley

Not all early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were rugged frontiersmen who regularly camped under the stars. They were also shop owners, craftsmen, farmers, cabinet makers, teachers, mill workers, builders and blacksmiths.

Latter-day Saints went west to escape religious persecution. They left behind comfortable homes and profitable farms and braved the 1,300-mile journey across the plains under sweltering sun as well as in freezing winter storms.

An illustration of a father trying to start a fire to feed his starving family. Depicted here are some of the handcart pioneers.

One of the many compelling stories of faith of the pioneers is that of Mary Fielding Smith, the widow of Hyrum Smith (President Joseph Smith’s brother), and her son  Joseph F. Smith  (sixth president of the Church, from 1901 to 1918).

They were traveling across the plains in a covered wagon pulled by a yoke of oxen. Young Joseph, about eight years old, recalled that after the oxen became ill, his mother prayed that the animals might arise and move forward, and “to the astonishment of all who saw,” they “got up and we drove along.” Mary Fielding Smith and her family were traveling across the plains with the first large group of Mormons that arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1847.

A statue on Temple Square honoring the Mormons who traveled across the plains to Utah pulling handcarts

Mormon Trail marker

Depiction on the This is the Place monument at This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Utah, of the arrival of Brigham Young and others in 1847. Brigham Young is riding in a wagon, with Wilford Woodruff driving.

On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saw the wide Salt Lake Valley from his wagon and declared, “This is the right place. Drive on.”

The first group of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley through Emigration Canyon between July 22 and 24, 1847. This vanguard company arrived in July; the first large body of church members arrived in September.

Portrait of a pioneer family

The pioneers wasted little time in beginning to settle the valley, as they started immediately upon arrival to prepare the soil for planting. Because they arrived in mid-summer, the growing season was short.

One of the oldest houses in Salt Lake City, built in 1847and owned by Osmyn M. Deuel

The settlers built ditches for irrigation, planted seeds and trees and felled timber in the nearby mountains to build homes.

A July 2016 view of the Salt Lake Valley from a place near Ensign Peak

Within days of arriving in the valley, early Church leaders walked up a hill on the north end of the valley (later known as Ensign Peak) to get the lay of the land, explored in nearby canyons, designated the center of the new settlement and selected the spot for the temple.

Workers construct the Salt Lake Temple (ca. 1870-1880)

There are now 150 operating temples located throughout the world.

ZCMI was the first department store west of the Mississippi River

American historian Wallace Stegner wrote about the Mormons, noting that “the story of their [the pioneers’] migration is more than the story of the founding of Utah. The Mormons were one of the principal forces in the settlement of the West.”

Parades marking the 24th of July have taken place from 1849 to today, known at different times as the “Pioneer Days Parade,” “Covered Wagon Days,” and the “Days of ’47.”

Pioneer Days Parade in 1897

The day the first covered wagons of Latter-day Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley has long been celebrated by the Church and was later designated a state holiday.

In 1897, 50 years after the Mormon pioneers’ arrival, George Edward Anderson photographed the surviving pioneers of 1847.

This photograph of surviving pioneers of the 1847 trek was taken on July 24, 1897, on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. Most pioneers in this photo arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1847. The portrait was taken on Temple Square.

In 1997, the Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. The celebration ran from January to July and included such things as a worldwide day of service for members of the Church to help in their communities, concerts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, pioneer exhibits and a two-day program of music and dance.

President Thomas S. Monson and his late wife, Frances, enjoy riding in the Days of ’47 parade in Salt Lake City, July 24, 2006.

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Westward Migration

The trek west.

The trek of the Mormon Pioneers is one of the most inspiring and heartbreaking episodes in U.S history. The Mormons, U.S. citizens, left their homes and marched thousands of miles from Nauvoo, Illinois on the Mississippi River, to the Salt Lake Valley, in Utah. They were literally driven out of their own country since Utah was then still part of Mexico. For many, the journey did not end there, as the Mormon Church continued to settle all the surrounding regions from Chihuahua, Mexico to Alberta, Canada.

As the first Mormon pioneers left Nauvoo in February of 1846, another group of Latter-day Saints left New York City on board the Brooklyn , under the leadership of Samuel Brannan , bound for Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), in California, from where they would make the trek to Utah. The journey lasted six months.

By June 14, the Saints traveling overland arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which they named Kanesville. Later they established Winter Quarters [1] across the river in Nebraska. By the end of the year, all Mormons who chose to follow the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had left Illinois and were established in Winter Quarters, or the other temporary settlements. The winter was harsh and many were near starving. In early 1847, Brigham Young received a revelation on how to organize for the journey west. It counseled the Saints to established groups with captains and to make way-stations along the journey [2] . It also commanded them to sing songs and dance when they were happy and to pray when they were sad. It was in Iowa that one Mormon pioneer, William Clayton, overjoyed to hear news that his wife had just given birth, wrote the famous song “Come, Come Ye Saints,” which the Mormons would sing as they crossed the plains.

In April of 1847, Brigham Young and his advance party left Winter Quarters. Other groups followed behind. This group blazed the Mormon Trail to Utah. The first scouts arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 21, 1847, but the main party arrived on July 24, 1847, which is celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah. On that day, Brigham Young, confined to a wagon because of illness, sat up in his bed, looked at the Salt Lake Valley and said, “This is the place, drive on.”

The men and women of this company immediately planted crops to have fresh wheat before the winter. Brigham Young and others chose and dedicated the land for the Salt Lake Temple and returned to Winter Quarters. They arrived just before winter. That December in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the members of the Church sustained and accepted Brigham Young as the second President of the Church , and a prophet, seer, and revelator to the whole world.

The next spring, Brigham Young and other companies returned to Utah. Crisis gripped the new colonies as swarms of crickets, later named Mormon crickets, attacked their crops in June 1848. After much prayer and fasting, flocks of seagulls came and ate all the crickets, more than they normally should have. The Mormon pioneers recognized this as a miracle. Later a monument was erected to this event on Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the seagull became the state bird.

The next few years passed similarly as more and more Mormon pioneers crossed the Great Plains and came to Utah. Towns were established all throughout Utah. Missionary work continued and by the late 1840s and 1850s, there were more Mormons in Europe, with over 17,000 in England alone, than in America. The Book of Mormon was translated into every major European language as well as Hawaiian, where the Church grew quickly, too. The Mormon Church started a newspaper, The Deseret News , and established churches, schools, and a government. In September of 1850, President Millard Fillmore named Brigham Young as territorial governor. The Mormons named a town, Fillmore, after him. In 1851, the Church established the University of Deseret, which is now called the University of Utah.

In August of 1852, the Church publicly announced for the first time the practice of polygamy , or plural marriage. This issue became the focus for all attacks and persecution of Mormonism for the next forty years. Nevertheless, the Mormons continued to establish towns throughout Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. To assist poor Mormons coming from Europe, the Church established in 1849 the Perpetual Emigration Fund . This gave money to immigrating Mormons and helped them to get established in the West. Once they could start making money, they paid back what they had taken. That money was then given to other immigrants. The PEF helped tens of thousands move to Utah. Eventually, to allow more settlers to come, the Church started having some pioneers use handcarts . While most Mormons made it safely with handcarts, two companies, the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies of 1856, got a late start and used green wood for their wheels. Since the wood was not properly cured, the wheels broke frequently. Delays from this and an early winter forced them to hole up in Martin’s Cove in western Wyoming. Many died of exposure before rescue efforts organized by Brigham Young saved them in November of 1856. Thousands of Mormons continued to immigrate with handcarts and wagons until the transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869.

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Mormonism in Pictures: Pioneers’ Trek West

“Mormonism in Pictures” is a photo essay feature from MormonNewsroom.org depicting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members around the world.

1866 party of pioneers in Utah canyon. Photo from Newsroom.LDS.org.

This week, as Latter-day Saints and others remember Mormon pioneers' inaugural journey to Utah in July 1847, we feature photos related to that pioneer trek west. Pioneer Day in Utah is held 24 July in honor of the first group of Mormon pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley through Emigration Canyon between 22 and 24 July 1847.

Nauvoo Mansion House. Photo from Newsroom.LDS.org.

The historic trek of the Mormon pioneers in the mid to late 1840s was an event that helped shape the development of the American West.

Timeline of Mormon Pioneer History – The Trek West

by Keith L. Brown | Sep 10, 2014 | Early History | 1 comment

Above is an infographic from The Trek West page of history.lds.org .

The first section shows major events that took place in the lives of pioneers before and after they survived the trek to the Salt Lake Valley. The graphic depicts the timeline of the lives of two pioneer women whose lives spanned a 200-year period.

Mary Ann Pulver VanLeuven (28 March 1768 – 7 April 1861) was approximately 84 years of age and a widow when she crossed the plains with the Robert Wimmer Company . Prior to embarking on the trek west, she witnessed many events from the Declaration of Independence to the first Saints departing Nauvoo, Illinois, and following Brigham Young to Utah. She was the daughter of John and Mary Ann (Spenser) Pulver. She married John VanLeuven in 1790. He passed away in 1847.  She was also the mother of 12 children: Cornelius, John, Ransom, Frederick Matthew, David, Carson, Davis, Ann, Elizabeth “Betsey”, Calvin, and Benjamin. Benjamin and Frederick took her to San Bernardino, California, by wagon train. She was captured by Indians en route and stripped naked before they where able to rescue her. They were among the first to bring oranges and citrus to Southern California. Many of their descendents still live in the area.

Hilda Anderson Erickson (11 November 1859 – 1 January 1968) was born in Ledso, Skaraborg, Sweden. She was the daughter of Pehr Anderson and  Maria Kathrina Larson Anderson. She was the wife of John August Erickson and had 2 children, Amy Dorothy Erickson Hicks and John Perry Erickson. She had 3 siblings, John Pehr, Claus, and Charles Pehr Anderson. She trekked across the United States as a young girl. During her lifetime she witnessed events from the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad to the first successful human mission to space.

The second section of the infographic shows a day in the life of a pioneer traveling with a wagon train. In order to accomplish everything that needed to be done in a day’s time, the pioneers had to make a schedule to include making all of their food from scratch, as well as taking care of any accidents that might occur and repairs to their wagons.

The third section of the infographic is a Then and Now comparison.

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Mary Ann Pulver Van Leuven was my 4th great grandmother. I was excited to locate this little bit of history about her. I did not know that she was one of the original Mormon settlers in Utah. In fact, I did not know that most of my Van Leuven ancestors were Mormons! My 3rd great grandmother, Elizabeth (Betsey) was the renegade member of the family who did not follow the rest of the Van Leuven family west. She was married to my 3rd great grandfather, Ambrose Roswell, and their family came from Canada into Ohio, where they lived and died. I would like to know why they did not become Mormon and follow the rest of their family, including her mother Mary Ann, to Utah. The history of the settlement of this country is so very interesting!

Linda Barta

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Mormon Trail of the Pioneers

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The Mormon trail was almost 1,300 miles long and crossed great plains, rugged lands, and the Rocky Mountains. The pioneers mostly traveled the Mormon trail by foot as they pushed handcarts or drove wagons pulled by a team of oxen to carry their meager possessions.

Take a tour of the Mormon trail by following this map of The Pioneer Story . The trail runs from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The story has great details of each stop along the way including excellent journal entries from actual pioneers.

Death and Hardship on the Mormon Trail

All along the Mormon trail, and during the years that the pioneers traversed this great trek west, hundreds of Saints of all ages, especially the young and elderly, died from hunger, cold, sickness, disease, and exhaustion. 1 Countless stories have been told and recorded of the trials and tribulations of the Mormon pioneers. Nevertheless, the Saints remained faithful and continued forward with "faith in every footstep." 2

Pioneers Arrive in Salt Lake Valley

On July 24, 1847, the first pioneers finally reached the end of the Mormon trail. Led by Brigham Young they came out of the mountains and looked down upon the Salt Lake Valley. Upon seeing the valley President Young declared, "This is the right place." 3 The Saints had been led to a place where they could live in safety and worship God according to their beliefs without the overwhelming persecution they'd faced in the east.

From 1847 to 1868, about 60,000-70,000 pioneers traveled from Europe and the Eastern US to join the Saints in the Great Salt Lake Valley, which later became part of the state of Utah.

The West Was Settled

Through hard work, faith, and perseverance the pioneers irrigated and cultivated the desert climate of the west. They built new cities and temples, including the Salt Lake Temple , and continually prospered.

Under Brigham Young's direction over 360 settlements were established by the Mormon pioneers throughout Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and California. 4 Eventually the pioneers also settled in Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming. 5

Of the Mormon pioneers President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

"Those pioneers who broke the sunbaked soil of the Mountain West valleys came for one reason only—'to find,' as Brigham Young is reported to have said, 'a place where the devil can't come and dig us out.' They found it, and against almost overwhelming adversities they subdued it. They cultivated and beautified it for themselves. And with inspired vision they planned and built a foundation that blesses members throughout the world today." 6

The pioneers were led by God as they traveled along the Mormon trail, reached the Salt Lake Valley, and established themselves.

Elder Russel M. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

"President Joseph F. Smith, who walked the pioneer trail to Utah as a nine-year-old boy, said in the April 1904 general conference, 'I firmly believe [that] the divine approval, blessing and favor of Almighty God... has guided the destiny of His people from the organization of the Church until the present... and guided us in our footsteps and in our journeyings into the tops of these mountains.' Our pioneer ancestors sacrificed virtually all they had, including their lives in many cases, to follow a prophet of God to this chosen valley." 7

Pioneer Day

July 24th is the day the first pioneers emerged from the Mormon trail into the Salt Lake Valley. Members of the Church worldwide remember their pioneer heritage by celebrating Pioneer Day on July 24th each year.

The pioneers were a people dedicated to the Lord. They suffered, worked hard, and even when under severe persecution, difficulty, and hardship they never gave up.

• James E. Faust, "A Priceless Heritage," Ensign , Jul 2002, 2–6.
• Robert L. Backman, "Faith in Every Footstep," Ensign , Jan 1997, 7.
• See Profile of Brigham Young
• Glen M. Leonard, "Westward the Saints: The Nineteenth-Century Mormon Migration," Ensign , Jan 1980, 7.
• The Pioneer Story: Trail Location Great Salt Lake Valley- Emigration Square
• "The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign , Jul 1984, 3.
• M. Russell Ballard, "Faith in Every Footstep," Ensign , Nov 1996, 23.
• Pioneer Day to Mormons
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Pioneer trek is here. What you need to know

Latter-day saints reenact the pioneer trek into the salt lake valley every year. here’s what to bring, what to expect and how to learn more about the pioneers.

By Hanna Seariac

During the summer months, some Latter-day Saints participate in an event known as “Pioneer trek,” a microscale reenactment of when pioneers crossed the Plains into the Salt Lake Valley in the 1800s.

This popular event even has a movie made about it. If you’re going on a pioneer trek this summer, here’s what you need to know.

What to bring (and where to find it)

Stakes, which are groupings of congregations, often offer packing lists , and these packing lists include many of the same items. While going on these treks, Latter-day Saints wear period clothing. Stores like Deseret Book sell pioneer-appropriate outfits. Etsy is full of options , too.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has provided simple patterns for pioneer clothing in its handbook on pioneer reenactments.

Other common needed items include a water bottle (especially in the summer heat), sunscreen, hygiene products, socks, moleskin, a 5-gallon bucket, bug spray, a flashlight, scriptures, lip balm, leather gloves and more. While trekkers often go to locations where handcarts are provided, the church also has a section in the handbook on how to build handcarts if needed.

What to expect

Trekkers can expect a 20- to 30-mile hike over three to five days. There are several locations where pioneer treks occur. Some of these locations provide rickshaws for the different physical needs of participants. These locations often provide handcarts, portable toilets, potable water and campsites, and all trek activities typically occur on the property.

The handbook advises that trekkers walk for 20-30 minutes at a time and then stop for water breaks. In the morning and at night, trekkers will often have scripture study, participate in dances, sing around campfires and learn pioneer history.

The Deseret News asked experienced trekkers what to expect on a trek.

A bishop in Utah County said, “Expect to drink more water than you ever have before. But also expect to come back changed.”

A Gen Zer whose family reunion each year includes a trek said, “I always loved my family more after I did trek. Whatever problems we had all went away when we worked hard together. Each year I would be so tired afterwards, but also happy that I saw my family differently.”

Learning pioneer history

Trek is all about honoring and remembering pioneer history. Before heading out on a trek, look at the Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database .

The database has the names of tens of thousands of pioneers and thousands of journal entries. Church media has also published many pioneer stories for audiences of all ages to enjoy including pioneer recipes and touching stories about sacrifice . Stories about pioneers across the globe are also important to read to learn about pioneer history.

The church also publishes stories to read along the trek.

If you plan to go on a pioneer trek this year, be sure to check out the church’s website for resources, and of course, drink water.

Utah’s Pioneer Day celebrates Mormons’ trek west – but there’s a lot more to the history of Latter-day Saints and migration

Ph.D. Candidate in U.S. History, University of Utah

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I helped build the websites for Century of Black Mormons and Utah Historical Markers.

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Each July 24, the state of Utah celebrates “ Pioneer Day .” There are parades, rodeos, fireworks, a marathon, hikes and historical outfits, plus lots of red, white and blue – similar to the Fourth of July and other patriotic events in America.

Pioneer Day, however, commemorates something unique: the day Mormon migrants arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. The label “Mormon” refers to any church rooted in the teachings of founder Joseph Smith, although the largest of these, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has rejected the name in recent years.

The first Latter-day Saints to reach Utah had fled Illinois, more than 1,000 miles away. On July 24, 1847, after months on the trail, church president Brigham Young caught sight of the valley and proclaimed, “ This is the right place .”

For Latter-day Saints, the holiday involves church activities like talks, dances, potlucks and sometimes reenacting pioneers’ experiences by walking along the “Mormon Trail” with handcarts. In Salt Lake City, there is a large parade called “ Days of ‘47 ” with floats reflecting an annual theme related to pioneers.

As a historian who studies Mormon migration and immigration , I see the pageantry of Pioneer Day as a reflection of the church’s long, complicated relationships with race, nationalism and identity. Each year’s commemorations emphasize stories of hardship and heroism. However, they remember just one story of migration out of many in the diverse history of the church and the region.

Church on the move

Smith founded the LDS church in upstate New York in 1830. Ever since, its history has been one of movement.

Smith claimed to have received revelations and visions indicating that Latter-day Saints should gather to prepare for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming . The church taught that God would gather his people in a place called Zion – a word found in the Bible, often used to refer to Jerusalem or Israel – before Jesus’ return. By converting people to the LDS church and encouraging them to migrate together, 19th-century Latter-day Saints believed that they were building Zion.

In the faith’s first few decades, the LDS church changed headquarters several times, gathering in New York, then Ohio, then Missouri, then Illinois. Each time, their arrival prompted conflict with local communities that did not trust the new church – discrimination that sometimes broke into violence . After Smith, the founder, was killed by a local mob in 1844, Young led a large faction of Mormons on the long, difficult journey to Utah.

Western years

When Latter-day Saints arrived by the Salt Lake in 1847, the area was Mexican territory. The United States gained control of the territory the next year as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , which ended the Mexican-American War and ceded Western lands to the United States.

It would be another half-century before Utah became a U.S. state, however. The territory was technically under U.S. control, but for the time being, Latter-day Saints celebrated their autonomy. As part of the effort to gather church members together, Young established a micro-loan system that financed converts’ migrations to Utah from both inside and outside the U.S.

Many did not trust the U.S. government, given the church’s previous experiences of discrimination. Nor did many Americans trust the LDS church, partially because of the practice of polygamy – which church leaders formally disavowed around the turn of the 20th century.

Some Americans in the 19th century considered Mormon immigrants to be racially nonwhite , although the vast majority were coming from Europe. Anti-immigrant sentiment was rising at the time, and critics sometimes conflated their fears about Mormon, Chinese and Muslim immigrants .

The U.S. federal government tried to stop Mormon immigration in a number of ways , such as forbidding people who supported polygamy from entering the country in 1891. Even so, hundreds of Latter-day Saints immigrated each year.

Overshadowed stories

Migration stories are a source of pride and identity for many Utahans, and Pioneer Day celebrations have a long history. Within two years of the first Latter-day Saints’ arrival in 1847, they started celebrating the anniversary with cannon salutes, music, bell ringing and speeches .

Later celebrations included reenactments. For the 50th anniversary in 1897, some celebrants reenacted part of the trek along the Mormon Trail and watched a procession of wagons and horse-drawn floats, a tradition that gradually formalized into the Days of ’47 parade.

To some, Pioneer Day symbolizes exclusion and forgetting – especially the church’s impact on Native Americans. In a 2019 op-ed , documentary filmmaker Angelo Baca and historian Erika Bsumek wrote that Pioneer Day “represents a key moment in the history of the colonization of the American West,” which caused “Utes, Paiutes, Shoshone, Goshute and Navajos” to lose “their homes, lands, and even, in some cases, their families.”

Pioneer Day is also the anniversary of the arrival of Black people, both enslaved and free, whose experiences have often been overlooked in Utah history. However, monuments and written records have helped spark discussion about how to remember their legacy during the holiday .

As Latter-day Saint membership has grown more globally diverse, Pioneer Day celebrations have included more diverse pioneer narratives from the faith’s history . In recent years, church programs have also emphasized stories of how “pioneers” are building up the faith all around the world, not only in Utah.

As Utah and the church continue to become more diverse, Pioneer Day participants will continue to recover histories of migration, displacement and courage that shape their identity in the present through their remembrances of the past.

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Winter 2018 Review Magazine

The journey west, historian's corner, richard e. bennett and thomas a. wayment.

Richard E. Bennett ( [email protected] ) was professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU when this was published.

Thomas A. Wayment ( [email protected] ) was publications director of the Religious Studies Center when this was published.

This interview features Bennett’s forthcoming volume The Journey West: The Mormon Pioneer Journals of Horace K. Whitney with Insights from Helen Mar Kimball Whitney , the first husband-and-wife account of the Mormon pioneer trek west. The book will be copublished by the RSC and Deseret Book and is projected to be released July 2018.

Q: Dick, tell us about the journals, where they’re housed, and how you came to work on them.

A : Well, the journals are housed in the Church History Library of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, and they’ve been there for a long time. They’re smallish in size, about nine inches high, four or five inches wide, and leather bound. There are seven journals that cover the exodus period.

Q: So these are trail journals?

A: Well, there is one missionary journal dated 1843 that is not part of this project, but what we’re looking at are the exodus trail journals that cover February 1846 to October 1847.

Q: I believe there have been earlier studies of the journals of this period. Can you help us situate this and what’s been done on them before and how you came to work on them?

A: No one’s ever published them before. Never. They’ve been sitting there for a long time. They’re part of a family of overland journals, of which many others have been published, and that includes the William Clayton journals; the Thomas Bullock journals, which were published a few years ago by Signature Press; the Howard Egan journals; and the Orson Pratt journals. So there’s a coterie of overland journals, but the journals of Horace K. Whitney with Helen Mar Kimball’s insights and reminiscences had never been published together before. I came across them when I was writing my dissertation thirty years ago and relied on them very, very heavily because they are so rich in detail. They’re not reflective diaries like you see in some of the others’ diaries here. Instead, they’re immediate to the time—what’s going on, the place, the people—although they get very much into the doctrines of the Church. So that’s why I found them so very, very fascinating.

Q: Fascinating!

A: I referenced them often in two of my books, Mormons at the Missouri , published by University of Oklahoma, and then We’ll Find the Place , by Deseret Book and Oklahoma.

Q: Excellent. Now am I mistaken to say that this is one of the few places where we have a husband and wife who are journaling at the same time?

B: [Laughs] This is fascinating because it isn’t just the fact that they are husband and wife; these two—Horace K. Whitney, who is the son of Newel K. Whitney (bishop of the Church), and Helen Mar Kimball, who is the daughter of Heber C. Kimball—are children of the Restoration. They grow up in Kirtland. She’s five; he’s a few years older. She’s baptized by her uncle Brigham Young in the Chagrin River in Kirtland in 1836, and he’s baptized in the same place in Kirtland, so they’re the only ones that we have seen who are like that—children of Kirtland. Then, when they get to Nauvoo, they’re married on 3 February 1836, one day before the exodus starts.

Q: Oh, wow. How fascinating!

B: So it’s a honeymoon—what I call a “honeymud”—crossing the Iowa. It’s a remarkable story with no parallel in the history of the Church, of a young, romantic couple heading west on the exodus. You usually think in terms of vigorous individual pioneers going across, but this is a couple whom I’m calling the children of the Restoration.

Q: And how old are they when they head out? What are their ages respectively?

A: He’s twenty-three years old, and she’s about seventeen. They’re just kids. It’s classic; it’s a romantic story on a pioneer trek.

Q: So they set out and independently are writing about their day-to-day affairs.

A: Well, he is the one who writes a day-to-day contemporary diary because it was expected of the pioneers, especially those who were leading in the pioneer company, to keep a diary.

Q: So he’s writing every day.

A: They’re also writing letters back and forth, but one of her greatest contributions is when she goes back years later to plug in details that give a woman’s perspective and that provide information that wasn’t found in the immediate diary. I’ve not seen anything quite like this in the history of the Church.

Q: Is she doing this knowing what her husband wrote?

A: Oh yes, she has access to his diaries.

Q: And so she is actually thinking about what he wrote.

A: Oh yeah, and she’s going over all the diaries and more or less says, “Well, Horace missed this, and so I’m going to add this, or explain this more fully.” She would refine parts here and there. Sections of her reminiscences have been published elsewhere but never in the context of her husband’s diaries, never in the completion of the thought pattern of the episode, of the event, of the doctrine, which is one of the reasons why this is such a valuable exercise.

Q: Now tell me a little bit about him and her as they travel. I don’t remember this from reading it, but was it an easy trek for them?

A: Easy? Anything but! Their first three children died on the trek coming west.

Q: And this is documented?

A: In their writings, yes.

Q: And what’s her perspective of this?

A: It’s a romantic but tragic story too because they are suffering with the rest of the Saints as they’re heading west.

Q: And so the diary has these moments that show this is a family struggling with loss.

A: His journals, like I said, are not all that reflective. You also have to look at her accounts and their letters one to another, where she begins to talk more in terms of the emotions involved. It’s not that his diary is emotionless, but he was on the move all the time, and there’s not a lot of time to be deeply reflective about what’s going on.

Q: And years later she can come back and share some of the raw feelings that she had, some of the hardship.

A: Although, in their letters they certainly talk about that. The last two weeks I’ve found scores of these letters, which I’m going to be incorporating in the footnotes on the days that they’re going on so it’s an even greater enrichment than I thought it was going to be.

Q: Wow, this is excellent to hear. As a reader thinks about this book, let me just paint a picture, and you add nuance. The book contains transcriptions of both of his journals and her reminiscent accounts, with annotations tying to Church history events, to people, and to places. What would you say was your emphasis in deciding what to annotate and what not to annotate? What kind of depth and layering did you intentionally bring to it?

A: Emotions, doctrines, episodes, key individuals, and fascinating experiences that are going on. For instance, when the Mormon Battalion is called to go march to the west, there are some real tugging emotions going on in terms of loss of loved ones. So, where I come across gaps in the historical record, or emotion and sentiment that you don’t necessarily see at the time, or doctrinal expositions—particularly on plural marriage, on the law of adoption, and on other salvific processes that occur at Winter Quarters—that’s what I add.

Q: What is it that you would say the reader would gain the most from in opening this book? What is it? Is it a woman’s perspective that’s so interesting?

A: Well, first of all, he is going to give insight. His diaries are unique in the following sense, especially his prairie diary. The exodus covers various segments, from the time they leave Nauvoo, cross Iowa (that treacherous trek across Iowa in the spring of ’46), spend their time at Winter Quarters (that is a terrible moment in the history of the Church, when so many are passing away from September ’46 to April ’47), on the vanguard company with Brigham Young—which he was a part of, not as the official scribe but, being the son of Newel K. Whitney, establishes Salt Lake City and other early valley establishments, and then comes back to Winter Quarters. Of all the prairie diaries, there is not another one that covers all these segments in the sequence that he does. So the completion of the prairie story and the vanguard coming to Salt Lake and everything else is a total picture. He has a beautiful pen, he knows the language so well, he’s very well educated, and he can write like the others can’t replicate.

Q: Excellent. And it’s also, as you mentioned, a picture from someone that was born in the Restoration, so this is his whole world.

A: Well, his parents, Newel K. Whitney and Elizabeth Ann Whitney, joined the Church in 1830 in Kirtland; he was just a young boy. So he’s raised in Kirtland, just like his wife-to-be was raised in Kirtland. Then they spend their teenage years in Nauvoo, and they get married the day before the exodus. You can’t get a better story than that. [laughs]

Then, the woman’s perspective is very, very crucial to incorporate. Helen Mar Kimball Whitney was also given in marriage to Joseph Smith in 1843 by her father, Heber C. Kimball, and she’s the youngest of all of his wives; she was fourteen at the time. Her sister-in-law, Sarah Ann Whitney, was also a plural wife of Joseph’s. So her comments about being a plural wife of Joseph are riveting. The whole story about her marriage to Joseph will be, and has been, of enormous interest to Church historians. But now we’re putting into context her second marriage (for “time”) to Horace K. Whitney and how she feels about being married to him. So plural marriage is a major factor in the background of this story. As one of Joseph’s youngest plural wives, she speaks reverently and very supportively of that story, which needs to be told within the context of her marriage to Horace. I don’t know of another journal quite like it.

By the way, Horace is not the kind of guy that needs to be in the limelight. He’s not like a Hosea Stout or some of those others that beg for attention. He’s happy to be in the background. He’s a very modest man. You know what he does on the side? He loves to play the flute. So he’s playing in Pitt’s brass band while crossing Iowa, in Winter Quarters, in Salt Lake. He goes on various missions, but he always keeps saying, “I don’t need a position in this church; I’m happy where I am.” Both of them are very modest, careful observers of what’s going on in Church history from a perspective that I think is unique.

Q: I want to put this on the record, this question. You’ve mentioned discovering letters, and coming from a researcher of your caliber, tell me about that. Are these something you’ve just recently uncovered?

A: Well, more materials have been donated through the years, both to the Utah State University library and to the Church History Library, so I’ve been spending some time in both places. And there are some wonderful trail letters between the two that I hadn’t seen before that enrich the story, and elements of which I’m adding to this work.

Q: Excellent. So these are letters between the two that have been housed in various archival collections but not at the Church officially.

A: Not so much at BYU but at the Church and Utah State University. Significantly, their son—they had eleven children together, eight of whom survived—Orson F. Whitney becomes an Apostle of the Church; his writing abilities are like his dad’s and mother’s. He’s trained in writing, and he’s able to explain things in a beautiful way. Orson F. Whitney has long been known as one of the great writing Apostles. I can see where he’s getting it, from his parents. He also writes a biography of his grandfather Heber C. Kimball.

Q: Yes. Wow, Dick, this is a great work. We are excited to see it in print.

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Religion in the American West

Mormon Trek

Each year, Mormon youth groups around the world participate in several-day-long reenactments known as trek. During trek, these groups walk in the footsteps of the pioneers who traveled across the country from upstate New York to Utah. Young Mormons wear mostly authentic clothes and, along with a family group, pull handcarts across terrain reminiscent of important locations from the journey west. Latter-day Saint youth learn about the core values of the religion and visit places of religious significance. For Mormons, trek is a safe way to interact with the experiences of Mormon pioneers on their journey west. Trek is an immensely significant religious event that allows Mormons to inhabit sacred time and place in a carefully crafted and controlled environment.

The power of trek comes from its universality and accessibility since this allows Mormons from all over the world to tap into the spiritual well of power that trek represents. Although the premise of trek is simple, it is a meticulously constructed program that balances the necessities of reenactment with the harsher realities of the original expedition. The official trek manual provided by the Church suggests activities like pulling handcarts, devotionals, scripture study time, singing hymns, a women’s pull, reenactment of stories, and walking for a specific pioneer ( Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2015, 13-14 ). Most stakes (the standard church subdivision for an area that tends to run trek) offer some combination of these activities, each of which encourages young Mormons to reflect on their spirituality and their connections to the pioneers. There is much emphasis placed on the core gospel principles of sacrifice, faith, love, and perseverance. In this way trek is a tool of the church to guide young Mormons to leading virtuous lives according to Mormon principles.

Trek also gives Mormon youth the ability to draw clear connections between the hardships they face and those of the pioneers. Countless testimonials provided by recent trek participants illustrate the manner in which trek strengthens participants’ connection to the spiritual aspects of their past, including the land, which they refer to as Zion, and the people, with whom they forge a personal connection ( Anonymous, 2:26 ). This connection allows the trek participants to relive the founding of the religion and experience the lives of the mythologized pioneers.

Trek is an instrumental part of Mormonism’s ability to maintain strict adherence to religious values. The modern equipment and favorable weather make the practice a flawed reenactment. However, it is tremendously successful as a way to force young Mormons to reflect on their place in the grand scheme of the religion. The widespread accessibility of trek across the globe is indicative of the success of Mormonism internationally. Trek is a way to prompt reflection upon the journey west and sacrifice of the first pioneers. It creates a way for young Mormons to not only connect to the pioneers as role models, but also to recognize personal hardships as instances of the early trials faced by the pioneers.

-Tucker Ward, November 2018

Suggestions for Further Reading:

Anonymous, Pioneer Journeys—More than a Trek .  YouTube Video. Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2016.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Handcart Trek Reenactment: Guidelines for Leaders . 2015.

Jones, Megan Sanborn. “(Re)Living the Pioneer Past: Mormon Youth Handcart Trek Re-Enactments.” Theatre Topics 16, no. 2 (2006): 113-130.

Featured Image:   “ A Group of Men Push a Handcart as They Go Uphill ” (2015).  LDS Media Library. Courtesy , LDS Media Library.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

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Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

Coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

Putin taunts the West with 'first ever' visit to remote ice-covered 'frontier region' just 55 miles from the US - as Zelensky tries to drum up war support in Lithuania

• Chukotka is Russia's easternmost region, sharing a maritime border with Alaska

President Vladimir Putin  has arrived for his first-ever presidential visit to Chukotka in Russia 's Far East - just 55 miles from the US state of Alaska . 

Putin arrived in Anadyr, the local capital of the Chukotka region this morning after flying from Moscow some nine time zones away. 

Chukotka is the easternmost region of Russia, with a maritime border on the Bering Strait with Alaska.

The Russian president was met in Anadyr by a motorcade and was whisked away in a limousine amid frigid temperatures of -28C. 

It's the closest he has come to US soil since he met with President  Barack Obama in New York City in 2015.

Chukotka is so close to Alaska that Roman Abramovich - the ex-Chelsea FC owner - was reported to fly to Anchorage in Alaska for lunch when he was the governor of the region from 2001 - 2008.

Putin's visit comes at a time when US-Russian relations are at their lowest ebb in decades amid the war in Ukraine and a growing East-West divide. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today landed in Lithuania as part of an unannounced trip to the Baltic states to drum up more support for the conflict. 

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The three Baltic states - all former Soviet republics which are now EU and NATO members - are among Ukraine's staunchest allies.

'Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are our reliable friends and principled partners. Today, I arrived in Vilnius before going to Tallinn and Riga,' Zelensky said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

'Security, EU and NATO integration, cooperation on electronic warfare and drones, and further coordination of European support are all on the agenda,' he said.

The Baltic tour marks Zelensky's first official trip abroad this year.

In Lithuania, a key donor to Ukraine, Zelensky said he will hold talks with the president, prime minister and the speaker of parliament, and meet with the Ukrainian community.

The visit comes as other Kyiv allies waver on fresh aid, nearly two years into Russia's invasion.

Ukraine has come under intense Russian shelling in recent weeks, retaliating with strikes on Russia's border city of Belgorod.

Zelensky has urged allies to keep military support flowing and held in-person talks with officials from the United States, Germany and Norway last month.

But an EU aid package worth 50 billion euros ($55 billion) has been stuck in Brussels following a veto by Hungary, while the US Congress remains divided on sending additional aid to Ukraine.

Following his trip to Chukotka, Putin is expected to visit several regions in the Russian Far East to boost his re-election campaign amid the war with Ukraine, which has seen more than 300,000 Russians killed or maimed.

He is due to stand in March, seeking another six years in the Kremlin.

The only Kremlin leader ever to travel to Chukotka previously was Dmitry Medvedev in 2008.

Putin's trip sees him escape a wave of ugly protests in western Russia over hundreds of thousands of people scraping by in freezing conditions due to breakdowns in communal heating supplies.

In Elektrostal, Moscow region, desperate residents say they have had no communal heating - which Russians routinely expect the state to supply usually through piped hot water - for the entire winter so far.

'We have been without heating since [9 October],' one resident said in a video circulating on Telegram.

'It is impossible to be in our homes… We are freezing! We are freezing! We are freezing!' they said.