If you’re planning on going into the wild and witnessing the settlements of the past or if you’re a history buff, Mormon Row Historic District is for you. Located at the southeast corner of the Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, Wyoming, USA, Mormon Row Historic District is a sight for people who are interested in the history of America.
In the Mormon Row Historic District, you will find the settlements from the 1900s, built by the Mormon Community. This place has domestic and agricultural infrastructure which was constructed by the material that was locally procured. While the irrigation systems present at the place represent the lifeblood of the community.
A Brief History Of Mormon Row Historic District
Mormon Row Historic District was established in the 19th century when leaders of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons sent people from Salt Lake to establish new communities and support their expanding population. Mormon Settlers clustered their farm to share labour and community, which was a stark contrast to the way American homesteaders lived at the time. The first settlers came from Idaho establishing a community that is now called The Mormon Row.
In the beginning, the settlers first established 27 homesteads in the Gervont area near the Gros Ventre River, mainly because of the fertile soil and the ease of irrigation. These settlers dug ditches with their hand and with the help of their horses to irrigate their fields between 1896 and 1937, even today some of the ditches can be seen. Mormon Row was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a historic district.
How To Reach Mormon Row Historic District
Getting here is very easy, all you have to do is, drive north from Jackson to Highway 191 to Moose Junction and then turn right into the Antelopes Flats road. Follow the road for about 1.5 miles until you see a North-South running dirt road marked by a pink Stucco house on the left with a small dirt parking lot. If these directions confuse you, use a GPS and get to Mormon Row Historic District.
Things To Do In Mormon Row Historic District
There are a lot of things to do in Mormon Row Historic District for history buffs, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and normal people.
Photography
Mormon Row is situated in Teton County which has a ton of wildlife. So if you’re a photographer, you may like this place very much. On top of the wildlife present at the place, the centre of attraction is the Mormon settlements. These homesteads speak volumes about the history of farming and community in America in the late 19th and early 20th century. Many photographers come here to capture the barns that stand true through the test of time along with the wildlife. With the abundance of history, culture and wildlife, the Mormon Row Historic District also has a mountain range, known as the Teton Range.
Enjoy The Historical Aspect
As a historian, this place gives you a deep understanding of the lives Mormon people lived while this historical architecture helps us put the history in perspective. This place is more than a hundred years old and it still preserves the essence of the 19th century. Although the church built here in 1916 was later moved to Wilson, the area still has some signs of its existence.
Have A Glimpse Of The Wildlife
Wildlife is not just for the photographers but for the common folks too. Mormon Row Historic District is a natural habitat of tons of wildlife. If you love nature, this place can have a zen-like experience due to its diversity in wildlife and lack of outside intervention. Here you can find animals like bison, deer, elk, and prairie dogs.
Go For Hiking In The Teton Range
The place is in close proximity to Teton Range which is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains present in America. Many people go hiking in the Tenton Range and try to reach its summit called the Grand Tenton. Or You can simply go to the Mormon Row Historic District and enjoy the beauty of these mountains from a distance.
Visit The Famous Barns On Mormon Row
The sole reason for the majority of people visiting Mormon Row is to go to the barns situated here. There are 2 barns that sit a few steps from each other and are a staple of the Mormon Row Historic District.
Final Thoughts
Mormon Row Historic District is a place that is for everyone, from photographers to historians and everyone in between. It helps us put into perspective the lives people of a particular community lived almost 120 years ago and it truly has a sense of nostalgia.