I left Hurricane just shy of 11:00 this morning, with no destination in mind. I pointed the truck towards Colorado City and from there pushed on towards Page. In less than an hour, I saw a sign announcing the Pipe Spring National Monument. I pulled off the highway and drove the 1/4 mile to the site to see what it was all about and found a museum, outdoor exhibits, and a guided tour of a fortified house that took up almost two hours! I was able to use my interagency pass to gain access.
Pipe Spring is essentially an oasis in the desert, a source of reliable water, but in insufficient quantity to build a settlement upon it. Paiute natives farmed, harvested, and hunted in this region for centuries. Mormon settlers grazed herds of tithing cattle and established an administrative post and telegraph station here. It was a busy, popular stop on the ‘honeymoon’ trail to St. George where Mormons would marry.
It was a very informational stop and I’m glad I pulled in!
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- A Paiute ‘kahn’, or living area, with a hut for sleeping and a covered shelter for cooking.
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- Pioneer cookstove.
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- Covered wagon.
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- Home dugout of the hillside.
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- Winsor Castle, named after the builder. It’s fortified but never had to be defended.
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- Took half an hour to do this trail and it was quite a bit of work!
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- Pipe Spring was connected to the 19th century information super highway.
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- This panel shows how the west was divided according to a precise grid pattern that ignored natural obstacles.
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- This was one of the easier sections!
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- Another wagon.
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- Closeup of the stone detail.
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- This guy was very friendly! He actually called me over with a gentle neigh and made it clear that he wanted to be rubbed under the chin and behind the ear. I was happy to oblige!
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- Mama duck.
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- Buggy,
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- Front of Winsor Castle.
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- Drill hole in a sandstone block.
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- Roof of the little cabin. There was grass on it!
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- I haven’t seen horns like these on cattle since Scotland!
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- I like the gate lock on the pumpkin patch!
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- Big pumpkin.
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- I was told to help myself. Pity I wasn’t in Miranda with a kitchen; I love winter squash!
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- These two were HILARIOUS. I have video of them chasing each other and squawking at the other.
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- Inside Winsor Castle’s sitting room.
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- Part of the kitchen.
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- The upstairs bedrooms had stoves.
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- The house is actually in two sections with a courtyard in between.
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- Cute lizard.
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- Another bedroom. I have a sewing machine like this one.
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- The telegraph office
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- The spring ran under the house to this cold room where butter was churned and cheese made, all in big quantities, and then shipped to St. George.
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- Cold food storage.
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- Cheese press.
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- Herbs hanging from the rafters.
Colorado City! You are lucky you did not end up as wife #6! 😉