Bear River City

Bear River City was a Scandinavian colony built around water. In 1866 the church called a company of Mormon converts from Denmark to settle here and bring the Malad River's water onto the land in an irrigation project. Their first homes were dugouts cut into the west bank of the Bear River, near where the steel bridge crosses today. Fearing the Northwestern Shoshone whose country this was, they drew together into a fort in the fall of 1867. One cabin here was raised by Lars and Christiane Christensen, who had crossed the plains pulling a handcart in 1859.

What the plaque says

In 1866 a group of Mormon Scandinavians were called by the Latter-day Saint Church to establish this settlement and develop an irrigation project from the waters of the Malad River. Their first homes were dugouts built in the west bank of the Bear River north of the steel bridge, which now spans the river. In the fall of 1867 they built homes in a fort, for protection from the Indians. This cabin was built there by Lars. C. Christensen and wife Christiane, handcart pioneers of 1859.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Wellsville Mountains — 9.0 mi
  The steepest mountains in North America for their height
• Hyrum State Park — 14 mi
  A family-friendly reservoir at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon
• Logan — 17 mi
  A vibrant college town tucked into a stunning mountain valley
• American West Heritage Center — 20 mi
  A living history farm spanning 160 acres of Cache Valley

More markers nearby

• Bear River City Pioneers — steps away
• Early Schools — 0.4 mi
• In Honor of James Bridger 1804 - 1881 — 1.4 mi
• Call's Fort — 3.4 mi