Martin's Cove: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 42°27′15″N 107°14′18″W / 42.45417°N 107.23833°W / 42.45417; -107.23833
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Rescuing 3 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.6.1) (Balon Greyjoy)
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.6.2)
Line 22: Line 22:


==History==
==History==
In November 1856, about 500 [[Mormon]] emigrants in the [[Mormon handcart pioneers#1856: Willie and Martin handcart companies|Martin Handcart Company]] were halted for five days in the Cove by snow and cold while on their way to [[Salt Lake City]].<ref name="historicwy">{{cite web |url= http://www.historicwyoming.org/index.php?id=118 |publisher= Alliance for Historic Wyoming |title= Martin's Cove |date= 2010-01-14 |deadurl= yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091228005750/http://historicwyoming.org/index.php?id=118 |archivedate= 2009-12-28 |df= }}</ref> The Martin Handcart company had begun its journey on July 28, 1856 which was dangerously late in the season and would ultimately lead to the disaster. Although the number who died in the Cove is unknown, more than 145 members of the Martin Company died before reaching Salt Lake City.<ref name="mormonhistoric">{{ cite web |url= http://www.mormonhistoricsitesregistry.org/USA/wyoming/natrona/martinsCove/history.htm |publisher= Mormon Historic Sites Registry |title= Martin's Cove |date= 2010-01-14 }}</ref> A few days prior to their arrival at Martin's Cove, the company was met by a small rescue party with food, supplies, and wagons that [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|LDS Church President]] [[Brigham Young]] had sent from Salt Lake City, Utah. On November 4 the company and rescuers forded the bitterly cold [[Sweetwater River (Wyoming)|Sweetwater River]] and sought shelter in the cove. That evening a powerful north wind blew the tents to the ground. The tents were set up again, but a blizzard brought heavy snow. The company remained in the camp for five days, unable to proceed due to the snow and cold. A number of the company's cattle died there and were preserved in a frozen state. When the weather warmed, on November 9, the company was able to move on toward Utah. With assistance from the original rescue party and from additional rescue parties that met them along the way, the survivors finally reached Salt Lake City on November 30.<ref name="mormonhistoric" />
In November 1856, about 500 [[Mormon]] emigrants in the [[Mormon handcart pioneers#1856: Willie and Martin handcart companies|Martin Handcart Company]] were halted for five days in the Cove by snow and cold while on their way to [[Salt Lake City]].<ref name="historicwy">{{cite web |url= http://www.historicwyoming.org/index.php?id=118 |publisher= Alliance for Historic Wyoming |title= Martin's Cove |date= 2010-01-14 |deadurl= yes |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091228005750/http://historicwyoming.org/index.php?id=118 |archivedate= 2009-12-28 |df= }}</ref> The Martin Handcart company had begun its journey on July 28, 1856 which was dangerously late in the season and would ultimately lead to the disaster. Although the number who died in the Cove is unknown, more than 145 members of the Martin Company died before reaching Salt Lake City.<ref name="mormonhistoric">{{ cite web |url= http://www.mormonhistoricsitesregistry.org/USA/wyoming/natrona/martinsCove/history.htm |publisher= Mormon Historic Sites Registry |title= Martin's Cove |date= 2010-01-14 |deadurl= yes |archiveurl= https://archive.is/20060720174847/http://www.mormonhistoricsitesregistry.org/USA/wyoming/natrona/martinsCove/history.htm |archivedate= 2006-07-20 |df= }}</ref> A few days prior to their arrival at Martin's Cove, the company was met by a small rescue party with food, supplies, and wagons that [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|LDS Church President]] [[Brigham Young]] had sent from Salt Lake City, Utah. On November 4 the company and rescuers forded the bitterly cold [[Sweetwater River (Wyoming)|Sweetwater River]] and sought shelter in the cove. That evening a powerful north wind blew the tents to the ground. The tents were set up again, but a blizzard brought heavy snow. The company remained in the camp for five days, unable to proceed due to the snow and cold. A number of the company's cattle died there and were preserved in a frozen state. When the weather warmed, on November 9, the company was able to move on toward Utah. With assistance from the original rescue party and from additional rescue parties that met them along the way, the survivors finally reached Salt Lake City on November 30.<ref name="mormonhistoric" />


Later many other emigrants would pass by the Cove on their way to [[Utah]], [[California]] and [[Oregon]] along with [[Pony Express]] Riders. During the 1870s, Tom Sun, a French-Canadian frontiersman, purchased the area around the Cove and established [[Tom Sun Ranch|Sun Ranch]].<ref>{{cite web | url={{NHLS url|id=66000753}} | publisher=National Park Service | title=National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form for Tom Sun Ranch |accessdate=2010-01-14}}</ref>
Later many other emigrants would pass by the Cove on their way to [[Utah]], [[California]] and [[Oregon]] along with [[Pony Express]] Riders. During the 1870s, Tom Sun, a French-Canadian frontiersman, purchased the area around the Cove and established [[Tom Sun Ranch|Sun Ranch]].<ref>{{cite web | url={{NHLS url|id=66000753}} | publisher=National Park Service | title=National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form for Tom Sun Ranch |accessdate=2010-01-14}}</ref>

Revision as of 06:53, 19 January 2018

Martin's Cove
Martin's Cove, Wyoming
LocationSouthwest of Casper, Wyoming, US
Nearest cityAlcova, Wyoming, US
Coordinates42°27′15″N 107°14′18″W / 42.45417°N 107.23833°W / 42.45417; -107.23833
Visitation100,000+ (2005)
NRHP reference No.77001383
Added to NRHPMarch 8, 1977

Martin's Cove is a historic site in Wyoming. The 933 acre (3.8 km²) cove is located 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Casper, Wyoming, in Natrona County. It is located on the Mormon Trail and is also part of the North Platte-Sweetwater segment of the Oregon Trail. The Cove was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1977.

History

In November 1856, about 500 Mormon emigrants in the Martin Handcart Company were halted for five days in the Cove by snow and cold while on their way to Salt Lake City.[1] The Martin Handcart company had begun its journey on July 28, 1856 which was dangerously late in the season and would ultimately lead to the disaster. Although the number who died in the Cove is unknown, more than 145 members of the Martin Company died before reaching Salt Lake City.[2] A few days prior to their arrival at Martin's Cove, the company was met by a small rescue party with food, supplies, and wagons that LDS Church President Brigham Young had sent from Salt Lake City, Utah. On November 4 the company and rescuers forded the bitterly cold Sweetwater River and sought shelter in the cove. That evening a powerful north wind blew the tents to the ground. The tents were set up again, but a blizzard brought heavy snow. The company remained in the camp for five days, unable to proceed due to the snow and cold. A number of the company's cattle died there and were preserved in a frozen state. When the weather warmed, on November 9, the company was able to move on toward Utah. With assistance from the original rescue party and from additional rescue parties that met them along the way, the survivors finally reached Salt Lake City on November 30.[2]

Later many other emigrants would pass by the Cove on their way to Utah, California and Oregon along with Pony Express Riders. During the 1870s, Tom Sun, a French-Canadian frontiersman, purchased the area around the Cove and established Sun Ranch.[3]

Ownership

LDS youth and leaders visit Martin's Cove on one of the popular "Handcart Treks"

Following the LDS Church's purchase of nearby Sun Ranch in the 1990s it tried to purchase the Martin's Cove property; to operate it as a historic site.[4] In 2002, a congressional bill for the sale of the property passed the House but then stalled in the Senate, due to worries about the sale of public land to a religious group.[5] The concerns were mainly the result of the land including areas commonly used as campgrounds by emigrant trains, the Pony Express, and other landmarks such as Devil's Gate. As a result, the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Interior Department, had to negotiate a long-term lease with the Church. This lease was signed in 2004, and allowed the Church to manage and maintain the property for 25 years.[5]

In 2006 a settlement following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, modified the way the site is administered, and required that the BLM remove religious references from the site and that the Church provide a public entrance to the cove through their property, but independent of the Visitors' Center.[6] The Church's volunteers at the site were also required to simply answer questions rather than approach visitors with anything that could be interpreted as proselytizing.[5]

The site today

About 100,000 people visit the site each year, of which the majority are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[7] Every year thousands of LDS Youth participate in "Handcart Treks" through the area near Martin's Cove. These Treks involve dressing up in period clothing while spending several days pulling handcarts and camping out along the Mormon Trail. The highlight of their Trek is visiting Martin's Cove and nearby Devil's Gate along with the LDS Visitors' Center.

See also

Template:Wikipedia books

References

  1. ^ "Martin's Cove". Alliance for Historic Wyoming. 2010-01-14. Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Martin's Cove". Mormon Historic Sites Registry. 2010-01-14. Archived from the original on 2006-07-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form for Tom Sun Ranch". National Park Service. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  4. ^ http://www.house.gov/list/press/as00_faleomavaega/martinscovelegislation.html
  5. ^ a b c "Martin's Cove land well-used, well-loved". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. July 24, 2010.
  6. ^ https://www.aclu.org/religion/govtfunding/25807prs20060607.html
  7. ^ https://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/aclu-wins-open-access-all-visitors-martin%E2%80%99s-cove-national-historic-site-wyoming

External links

Media related to Martin's Cove at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin%27s_Cove&oldid=821242491"