Pioneer Day

For the Rhodesian holiday, see Pioneers' Day.

Pioneer Day
Re-enactment of Mormon pioneers in the 1912 Pioneer Day Parade at Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, Utah
Observed byUtah, United States and Latter-day Saints worldwide
Significancecommemorates the first entry of Brigham Young and a group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847
Celebrationsparades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities
DateJuly 24
Next timeJuly 24, 2025 (2025-07-24)
Frequencyannual

Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah,[1] with some celebrations taking place in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers.[2][3] It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847,[4] where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois,[5] and other locations in the eastern United States.[6] Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event. Similar to July 4, many local and all state-run government offices[1] and many businesses are closed on Pioneer Day.[7]

In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[8][9] On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart.[10] Latter-day Saints throughout the United States[11][12] and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Church's pioneer era, with songs, dances, potlucks, and pioneer related activities.[13][14]

While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is officially a celebration for everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who immigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era, which is generally considered to have ended with the 1869 arrival of the transcontinental railroad.[15] Notable non-LDS American pioneers from this period include Episcopal Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle, who was responsible for Utah's first non-Mormon schools (Rowland Hall-St. Mark's) and first public hospital (St. Mark's) in the late 19th century.[16] The Intertribal Powwow at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City honors the cultural heritage and contributions of the area's Native Americans, helping Utahns to gain a deeper understanding of the region's history.[17][18]

  1. ^ Packard, David (July 15, 2009), "Pioneer Day in Pocatello, Idaho", Church News, LDS Church, retrieved August 5, 2013
  2. ^ Tanner, Eliza (September 1995), "Safe from the Storms", Ensign, LDS Church
  3. ^ Schindler, Harold (July 24, 1997), "Ailing Young Rolls Out of Canyon, Likes Look of the Salt Lake Valley", Salt Lake Tribune, Mormon Trail Series, Article ID: 100F84BB82E32C16. Reprinted Archived September 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine with permission at Utah History to Go.
  4. ^ Sanford, Melissa (April 8, 2004). "Illinois Tells Mormons It Regrets Expulsion". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Today in History: July 24", American Memory, Library of Congress, retrieved August 5, 2013
  6. ^ Kofesh, Jessica (July 22, 2017), "Pioneer Day 2017: What's closed, open around Northern Utah", Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, archived from the original on July 24, 2018, retrieved July 24, 2017
  7. ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (October 2001), "Remarks at Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert", Ensign, LDS Church
  8. ^ Reynolds, Sydney Smith (June 1989), "They Belong to Us All", Liahona, LDS Church
  9. ^ "Mormons Celebrate Their Pioneer Heritage", Newsroom, LDS Church, July 23, 2009, retrieved August 5, 2013
  10. ^ McGrath, Rachel (July 26, 2009), "Mormons in Camarillo mark pioneers' Utah arrival in 1847", Ventura County Star, Camarillo, California, archived from the original on August 6, 2012
  11. ^ Rohrer, Grey (July 20, 2009), "Pioneer Days celebrate western migration", Cape Coral Daily Breeze, Cape Coral, Florida, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
  12. ^ Gaunt, LaRene Porter (April 2005), "Celebrate!", Ensign, LDS Church
  13. ^ Bailey, Tamara Leatham (July 1997), "For Your Info: Pioneer Parties", New Era, 13 (1–3), LDS Church: 341–356, doi:10.1023/A:1006550728250, S2CID 26050131
  14. ^ Greenleigh, Alicia (July 21, 2009), "Days of '47: The day when pioneers are cool", Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the original on June 15, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
  15. ^ Quinn, Frederick (2004), "Chapter 1: Daniel S. Tuttle, the pioneer bishop", Building the "Goodly Fellowship of Faith" – A History of the Episcopal Church in Utah – 1867–1996, Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, ISBN 0874215935, OCLC 56347804
  16. ^ Mayorga, Carlos (July 20, 2008), "Powwow honors Indian culture", The Salt Lake Tribune, pp. D3, retrieved August 5, 2013. Archive Article ID: 9925806
  17. ^ Wharton, Tom (July 26, 2011), "American Indians celebrate culture at Liberty Park", The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved August 5, 2013