To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Brigham Young’s wagon into the Salt Lake Valley, the Semi-Centennial Commission planned to host a spectacular four-day celebration to honor the surviving pioneers. Only one year after Utah’s statehood, organizers wanted the Pioneer Jubilee to be “the biggest celebration in the country since the 1893 World’s Fair” and the largest event yet to be seen west of the Mississippi.
In the tradition of pageantry of the 1890s, patriotic themes loom large in the Jubilee: flags, eagles, and the stars and stripes can be seen throughout the decorations and souvenirs from the event. The Jubilee, however, has another, parallel set of images in its pageantry: those related to the settling of the area by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beehives and bees for industriousness, sea gulls, Brigham Young, and other significantly Mormon symbols permeated the event. This joint demonstration of patriotism and singularity makes Utah’s celebration stand out like no other in the last decade of the nineteenth century.
Likewise, as Daughters of Utah Pioneers, we celebrate the arrival of Brigham Young and the pioneers to the Utah valley. We have also used the Jubilee to celebrate Brigham Young’s birthday, June 1.
The Jubilee and Pioneer Day Collection consists of Legacy Jubilee and Pioneer Day articles submitted by camps and companies. The collection will grow as you continue to submit articles to the Legacy.
If you are looking for Jubilee and Pioneer Day ideas, ‘this is the place’ to look.
ARIZONA
Arizona East Maricopa : “In Their Footsteps”
Arrowhead Camp, Maricopa West Company: “Handiwork Jubilee Service Project”
COLORADO
Douglas Company, Twenty Mile Camp: “Three-Year Project Celebrating the Pioneer History of Colorado”
IDAHO
Bannock North Company : “Dolls and One Lady”
High Deseret Drums Camp, Mountain Home: “Jubilee Celebration at Three Island Stake Park”
Jefferson County Company: “Old Fashioned English Tea Party”
Paris, Idaho, Parade : Elizabeth Passey Camp Wagon Entry
NEVADA
Clark Nevada Desert Spring Company and Legacy Meadows Company: “Las Vegas Fort Visit on Pioneer Day”
Las Vegas Fort Visit : Clark Nevada Desert Springs and Legacy Meadows Co.
Sunflower Patch Camp, Clark Nevada Desert Springs Company, Las Vegas: “Sunflower Patch Western Jubilee!”
UTAH
American Fork Museum : 1850 American Fork Life
Camp Christine, Redmond Sevier County: “Our Pioneers-Heroes of Redmond”
Davis Heritage Company : “Wedding of the Rails”
Duchesne Company: “Jubilee and Awards”
Farmington Davis Company: “Country Fair Jubilee”
Iron Company : Brigham Young Home Visit
Salt Lake East Bench Company : Salt Lake County
Salt Lake Olympus: “Transcontinental Railroad”
Sevier South Company: “Our Pioneers Paved the Way to Make the Path Easier to Follow”
Tooele County Company: “Pioneer Hats and Shawls”
Weber South Company : Legacy of Service
Weber South Company: “Mary Mower Family Legacy Jubilee”
Springville Pioneer Museum : Open House
Camp Monroe Walking Tour : Sesquicentennial Celebration
“What’s Your Story?” : Ralph Smith Camp Parade Float
Mendon Days Celebration : Mendon Camp Pioneer Fun
WYOMING
Cedar Camp, Uinta County Wyoming Company: “An Afternoon Tea”
Courage Camp, Uinta County Wyoming Company: “Springville Utah Art Museum Trip”
Lincoln Company “Once Upon a Time…” Jubilee
Uinta Wyoming Company: “Bridger Valley”
Uinta Wyoming Company and Henefer Camp, Utah: “Fort Bridger Historic Site Visit Jubilee”