Mountain Meadows Massacre Site
Historic sites
A National Historic Landmark on Highway 18 north of St. George marking the September 1857 massacre of about 120 emigrants, with memorials and interpretive plaques.
What happened here
In early September 1857 roughly 140 emigrants, most of them families from northwest Arkansas, camped in this valley on their way to California. On 11 September, militiamen associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints killed about 120 of them. Only small children were spared.
It is the darkest event in southern Utah's history, and the site is treated accordingly: this is a memorial rather than a tourist stop.
Visiting
The site sits off Highway 18 between St. George and Enterprise, near Central — roughly 35 minutes north of St. George and 15 minutes south of Enterprise. Several plaques and interpretive displays tell the story at the memorial, which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in 1999 and maintains.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre National Historic Landmark takes in four separate locations across the valley.
What to expect
There is no visitor center and no staff. Allow time to read the plaques; the history is detailed and the site does not make sense without them. Visitors are asked to treat the grave sites with the respect due a burial ground.
More on this: historic sites in St. George.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Mountain Meadows Massacre Site?
On Highway 18 between St. George and Enterprise, near Central, Utah — about 35 minutes north of St. George. The memorial is reached by a short side road off the highway.
Is there an admission fee?
No. The site is free and open to the public, with no visitor center or staffed facilities.