First Coal Mine in Utah

Utah's first coal mine was found because a Ute man pointed the way. In 1854, at Fort Ephraim, a Ute named Tabiona handed Brigham Young a lump of black rock and told him, "Heap burn." Young sent two Welsh miners, John Rees and John Price, to follow him to the seam, which they found in Coal Canyon southwest of here. Welsh pioneers were called to settle nearby Coalbed — later Wales — and work it. By 1872 the mine had twelve coke ovens, and by 1875 a rail branch ran down from Nephi to carry the coal to market.

What the plaque says

In 1854, at Fort Ephraim, an Indian Tabiona, gave Pres. Brigham Young a black rock, saying “Heap burn.” Two Welsh coal miners, John Rees and John Price, were sent with the Indian to located the coal vein, which was found in Coal Canyon about 1 mile south and 1 1/2 miles west of this marker. Until 1860, Welsh pioneers were directed to settle near Coalbed (Wales) to develop the mine. In 1872, twelve coke ovens were erected. In 1875, a branch railroad line was extended from Nephi to ship the coal to market. It carried U.S. mail for all Sanpete Co.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Spring City — 7.5 mi
  An entire pioneer town preserved on the National Register
• Ephraim Co-op — 9.1 mi
  The 1871 cooperative store that outlived the economy it was built to replace
• Ephraim — 9.2 mi
  Utah's Little Denmark and the home of Snow College
• Mount Pleasant — 10 mi
  A National Register Main Street and Utah's oldest boarding school

More markers nearby

• Moroni Fort and Bastion — 3.6 mi
• ZCMI Co-Op Building — 3.8 mi
• Ephraim Pioneer Cemetery — 7.2 mi
• Spring City — 7.4 mi