B and K Tannery

The Big Kanyon Tannery was one of Brigham Young's industrial ventures, established near this site in 1852 with Feramorz Little and John Winder. It tanned leather using oak bark and coal oil — the oil hauled from Tar Springs near Yellow Creek, at the site of present Evanston, Wyoming — and the coal-oil process gave the leather a softness that took three of five first prizes at the 1862 territorial fair. A small settlement grew up around it, with a school for the workers' children. The railroad ended it, bringing in leather cheaper than the tannery could make.

What the plaque says

Sons of Utah Pioneers B & K TANNERY The B & K Tannery, also known as the Big Kanyon Tannery, was established in 1852 near this site by Brigham Young, Feramorz Little and John Winder. The area was first called Canyon Creek; then Big Kanyon, and later Parley’s Canyon. By 1862, the Tannery was producing good quality leather, using agents such as oak bark and coal oil in the process. A small settlement was built nearby to accommodate the tannery workers, which included a school for the children of the manager and the workmen. Local artisans used the leather produced to manufacture boots, harnesses and saddles. The coal oil was obtained from a well, known as the Tar Springs, near Yellow Creek, which was located at the site of present Evanston, Wyoming. The use of coal oil created a softness in the leather that brought exhibitors three out of five of the first prizes in the Territorial Fair of 1862. Leather from this Tannery was used in the shoe shop Brigham Young established on his own premises. Two things led to the demise of the tannery; the scarcity of the native bark needed for tanning, and the fact that the newly installed railroad brought in leather which was cheaper than could be manufactured here. Beehive Chapter, Sons of Utah Pioneers Dedicated November 20, 1985

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 3.1 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
• Emigration Canyon — 3.7 mi
  The final stretch of trail the Mormon pioneers took into the valley
• Natural History Museum of Utah — 3.9 mi
  A world-class museum built into the foothills above Salt Lake City
• Red Butte Garden — 4.2 mi
  A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views

More markers nearby

• Charles Stillman Bridge — steps away
• Kanyon Creek Mill — steps away
• Lambs Canyon — steps away
• The Overland Stage — steps away