Stories that Stick • Heritage that Heals • Heritage Tributes
Utah is a Pioneering State
Utah is a PIONEERING state. It started long before the Mormon pioneers came across the plains. That pioneering spirit was found in people sharing each other’s burdens and working together to accomplish otherwise impossible things.
Building for the Future
You can see it in the ancient petroglyphs and pictographs of our indigenous peoples – Utah’s tribal nations. You can discover that spirit in the journals of explorers, trappers, and the mountain men who first mapped the territory for others to follow.
You can see it the pioneers who sacrificed their comfort and even their lives in search of a place where they could practice their religion safely. And you can see it in the way the territory and state blossomed as a home for settlers, who plowed the desert ground to plant, and found ways to build for the future, and others whose ingenuity added mining and manufacturing as a financial base for growth.
Building for the Future
You can see it in the ancient petroglyphs and pictographs of our indigenous peoples – Utah’s tribal nations. You can discover that spirit in the journals of explorers, trappers, and the mountain men who first mapped the territory for others to follow.
You can see it the pioneers who sacrificed their comfort and even their lives in search of a place where they could practice their religion safely. And you can see it in the way the territory and state blossomed as a home for settlers, who plowed the desert ground to plant, and found ways to build for the future, and others whose ingenuity added mining and manufacturing as a financial base for growth.
Fertile Ground
Utah became fertile ground for the inventions of some of the brightest minds in America. They were all part of the families and communities that helped make Utah what it is today!
But today’s frantic pace and disconnection from the land has torn at the fabric of family and community and separated us from one another. Even today’s technology has separated us, giving us a false sense of connection.
Alone, we lose what we need most — a true sense of who we are and what our strengths are. We need a feeling of belonging as we face today’s challenges and stress.
Fertile Ground
Utah became fertile ground for the inventions of some of the brightest minds in America. They were all part of the families and communities that helped make Utah what it is today!
But today’s frantic pace and disconnection from the land has torn at the fabric of family and community and separated us from one another. Even today’s technology has separated us, giving us a false sense of connection.
Alone, we lose what we need most — a true sense of who we are and what our strengths are. We need a feeling of belonging as we face today’s challenges and stress.
Building Resilience
We need more resilience – the ability to recover quickly from worries and problems. But where does that resilience – that feeling of belonging and connection come from?
Resilience can come from knowing the stories of people who have triumphed over adversity. The stories of Utah’s past are filled with inspiration — and lessons in how people with much less than we have, overcame their challenges with courage, faith, ingenuity, and sheer perseverance. We need more resilience – the ability to recover quickly from worries and problems. But where does that resilience – that feeling of belonging and connection come from?
Watch the complete Panguitch Quilt Walk Story:
Building Resilience
We need more resilience – the ability to recover quickly from worries and problems. But where does that resilience – that feeling of belonging and connection come from?
Resilience can come from knowing the stories of people who have triumphed over adversity. The stories of Utah’s past are filled with inspiration — and lessons in how people with much less than we have, overcame their challenges with courage, faith, ingenuity, and sheer perseverance. We need more resilience – the ability to recover quickly from worries and problems. But where does that resilience – that feeling of belonging and connection come from?
Watch the complete Panguitch Quilt Walk Story:
Resilience can come from knowing the stories of people who have triumphed over adversity. The stories of Utah’s past are filled with inspiration — and lessons in how people with much less than we have, overcame their challenges with courage, faith, ingenuity, and sheer perseverance.
A Well-told Story
And there’s nothing quite as powerful as a well told story! It can be a source of great strength! And so, since 2008 we have been gathering and curating the stories of Utah’s pioneering heritage and presenting them using the Entertainment Arts.
We have begun a Legacy Series, collecting the most relevant stories from across Utah — to give each resident a stronger connection to his or her community heritage.
We have begun themed collections with our book/album, Echoes of Hammers and Spikes, about the most impossible technological achievement of the 19th century — the Transcontinental Railroad — which was completed right here in Utah. That book has real inspiration for the innovators of tomorrow.
A Well-told Story
And there’s nothing quite as powerful as a well told story! It can be a source of great strength! And so, since 2008 we have been gathering and curating the stories of Utah’s pioneering heritage and presenting them using the Entertainment Arts.
We have begun a Legacy Series, collecting the most relevant stories from across Utah — to give each resident a stronger connection to his or her community heritage.
We have begun themed collections with our book/album, Echoes of Hammers and Spikes, about the most impossible technological achievement of the 19th century — the Transcontinental Railroad — which was completed right here in Utah. That book has real inspiration for the innovators of tomorrow.
Music Makes It Memorable
And we are continuing with presentations of the Mormon Pioneer Heritage Festival, a collaboration between Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, Snow College, the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, Utah’s First Nations, and Map-N-Tour. It’s a series of interactive performance events that will take you back to the previous centuries to experience the joys and sorrows, struggles and triumphs of our indigenous and pioneering ancestors, and then entertain you with stories, songs, and cowboy poems, in a multi-media stage show.
Learn more about the Mormon Pioneer Heritage Festival
Music Makes It Memorable
And we are continuing with presentations of the Mormon Pioneer Heritage Festival, a collaboration between Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, Snow College, the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, Utah’s First Nations, and Map-N-Tour. It’s a series of interactive performance events that will take you back to the previous centuries to experience the joys and sorrows, struggles and triumphs of our indigenous and pioneering ancestors, and then entertain you with stories, songs, and cowboy poems, in a multi-media stage show.
Learn more about the Mormon Pioneer Heritage Festival
Watch the Story Road Utah App Overview:
A Story Around Every Bend
And, as part of the festival, we have co-created Story Road Utah. It’s a travel app that presents our collection of Utah’s stories on your mobile device while you’re driving through this gorgeous and diverse state. It shows you where you are in relation to the stories that are all around you — stories that are tied to destinations you can visit — stories that are presented in audio and video formats. It’s entertainment that’s perfect for a Road Trip. Story Road Utah gives you a way to discover the Utah you never knew existed! You can download it from your Apple App Store or your Google Play Store.
Get our FREE app and start exploring:
Watch the Story Road Utah App Overview:
A Story Around Every Bend
And, as part of the festival, we have co-created Story Road Utah. It’s a travel app that presents our collection of Utah’s stories on your mobile device while you’re driving through this gorgeous and diverse state. It shows you where you are in relation to the stories that are all around you — stories that are tied to destinations you can visit — stories that are presented in audio and video formats. It’s entertainment that’s perfect for a Road Trip. Story Road Utah gives you a way to discover the Utah you never knew existed! You can download it from your Apple App Store or your Google Play Store.
Get our FREE app and start exploring:
Tell Your Story
This combination of storytelling, visual imagery, and song makes for a totally engaging and unforgettable experience getting to know our shared ancestors. And, while that is undeniably true, a stronger sense of self — that feeling of belonging and connection — comes from knowing the stories of the people in your own immediate family. Finding the strengths, character traits, and talents that have been passed down from your own family tree gives you identity and confidence, as well as a connection to your roots! And nothing brings our families and communities together like knowing and sharing THESE stories.
Sample the family stories of others:
Tell Your Story
This combination of storytelling, visual imagery, and song makes for a totally engaging and unforgettable experience getting to know our shared ancestors. And, while that is undeniably true, a stronger sense of self — that feeling of belonging and connection — comes from knowing the stories of the people in your own immediate family. Finding the strengths, character traits, and talents that have been passed down from your own family tree gives you identity and confidence, as well as a connection to your roots! And nothing brings our families and communities together like knowing and sharing THESE stories.
Sample the family stories of others:
So, we at Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts are all about stories – to lift and inspire you – and to encourage you to find and share your own stories. To learn from the triumphs and even from the tragedies. All these ancestral stories have great power to change us for good – to help us be more compassionate, thoughtful, kind, and helpful. Nothing will bring you closer to your family and your community than to feel the emotional connection that we all share as we stop for a while and take a look back.
We need to hear all these stories and learn to love these people who have given us this rich heritage. We echo the quote by Mary Lou Kownacki, a Benedictine nun, long-time peacemaker, and author. Shes said. “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” We couldn’t agree more!
Stories that Stick • Heritage that Heals
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