Washington County, Utah/Monuments and Memorials

Notable Monuments, Memorials and Cemeteries of Washington County, Utah:

Notable Washington County Monuments[]

Adair Spring Monument 1857[]

The Adair Spring Monument commemorates the 1857 group of about 38 southerner families were called by Brigham Young (1801-1877) on to settle the Virgin River area of Southwest Utah and to crow cotton, to decrease the saints reliance on expensive product from back east. The first group was led by Samuel Jefferson Adair (1806-1889) and a second group led by Robert Dockery Covington (1815-1902) who was appointed president of the newly formed branch at Washington, Utah. Other pioneer families joined them in 1861 but this ambitious endeavor came to an end after the close of the Civil War and cotton prices collapsed.

Stoneless Graves Monument[]

Monument to the Stoneless Graves of Pine Valley: Located in the Pine Valley Cemetery (Utah):

All Must be Remembered.
The stoneless graves of the UPPERTOWN Pine Valley cemetery:

Encampment Mall Memorial[]

St. George Pioneers of 1861-62 : Encampment Mall Memorial at Dixie State University, St. George, Utah.

List compiled by Roberta Blake Barnum for the Dixie College, Encampment Mall Memorial which today lies at the center of campus and marks the sport were this pioneer company first camped when arriving to settle St. George, Utah, Washington County, Utah in 1861-62.

Tonaquint Veterans Memorial[]

Tonaquint5 — Veterans Memorial at Tonaquint Cemetery.

Tonaquint Veterans Memorial at Tonaquint Cemetery in St. George, Utah. Tribute to over 3000 local Notable military veterans of St. George, Utah, some date all the way back to the Mormon Battalion of 1846-1848.

Local Landmarks[]

St. George Utah Temple[]

The St. George Utah Temple, dedicated in 1877, holds historical significance as the oldest operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the first temple completed in Utah and the only one dedicated by Brigham Young (1801-1877). The construction was a monumental effort by early pioneers, symbolizing their faith and dedication despite harsh conditions. The temple served as a spiritual anchor for the settlers of Washington County, Utah and surrounding areas, promoting unity and spiritual growth. It has undergone several renovations, but it continues to be a place of profound spiritual experiences and historical pride for Latter-day Saints.

Historic Homes[]

George Whitehead Home - George Frank Whitehead (1863-1961) bought the whole city block and then built this home for his bride in 1883. He was a builder and insisted that everything about the house be substantial and of the best quality. He even insisted that the foundation be constructed and allowed to settle for one year before the walls went up. He and his bride, Esther Jane Morris (1864-1948), moved into the original part of the house on their wedding day, November 22, 1883.

LDS Church Historic Sites[]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) operates a great many church historic sites in Washington County. Each stands as a monument and memorial to the early pioneers who settled here.

LDS Church History Map of St George Utah - Interactive Map: Latter-day Saint Places of Interest, St. George and Santa Clara.
Encampment Mall Memorial - Tribute to LDS Church Pioneers that settled St. George in 1861-62.
Jacob Hamblin Home LDS Church History Site. The Hamblin Home in Santa Clara, Utah, is the place where Jacob Hamblin, Southern Utah Indian Mission president, lived with his family from 1863 to 1868. Because of Hamblin’s service among the American Indians in the region, the home functioned as the headquarters for the mission. Today it is a historic site and is open for public tours. The home and furnishings have been restored to reflect their 1860s appearance.
Temple Quarry Trail - Hike St. George): From 1871 to 1877, Latter-day Saints used local materials to build the St. George Utah Temple. They hauled volcanic rock from this nearby hill for the temple’s foundation. Today an out-and-back hiking trail curves around the hill. In total, it is a 2.2-mile hike.
Sandstone Quarry Trail (Hike St. George): From 1863 to 1877, Latter-day Saints used local materials to build the St. George Tabernacle and St. George Utah Temple. They quarried sandstone from this nearby hill for the exterior walls of those buildings. Today an out-and-back hiking trail takes visitors to the site of the quarry next to the Red Hill Golf Course in downtown St. George. In total, it is a 0.6-mile hike.
Brigham Young Winter Home and Office - LDS Church History Site. From 1870 to 1877, President Brigham Young lived in St. George, Utah, during the winter months. Beginning in 1872, he and members of his family lived in the place that is now called the Brigham Young Winter Home. From this home, he directed the affairs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today this historic site is open to the public year-round. The home and adjacent office have been restored and furnished to reflect their 1870s appearance. Tours tell about Brigham Young’s family life in St. George and about his role in directing the settlement of southern Utah, including the construction of the St. George Utah Temple.
St. George Tabernacle LDS Church History Site. The St. George Tabernacle is a historic meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has functioned as a place for worship and community gatherings since 1869—before its completion in 1876. In addition to Latter-day Saint worship, the tabernacle has also been used on occasion by other faiths.
St. George Temple Visitors Center LDS Church History Site. In 1871, President Young announced that a temple would be built in St. George, Utah. Latter-day Saints completed the temple in 1877. The St. George Utah Temple became the first temple to be completed since the Saints left Nauvoo in 1846 and the first where endowments for the dead were performed.
Pine Valley Chapel- LDS Church History Site: The Pine Valley Chapel is located in Pine Valley, Utah, about a 45-minute drive north from St. George, Utah. This historic meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was built by settlers of the valley in 1873. Tours daily during summer months.