George A. Smith Provo Pioneer Village- Living in the Frontier 1849 to 1872 in Utah County

This village is early Provo, gathered up and saved before it could vanish. The Sons of Utah Pioneers assembled it to show how people lived in Utah County between 1849 and the railroad's arrival in 1873 — homes, shops, meeting places, and animal sheds, most of them real historic buildings hauled in from around the area rather than replicas. It started in 1931, when David Loveless gave the local chapter the old John Turner cabin, some outbuildings, and his collection of frontier artifacts; Provo supplied the land. Piece by piece, the men have kept adding to it ever since.

What the plaque says

Pioneer Village is an authentic representation of life in Provo before the arrival of the Utah Southern Railroad in 1873. Most of the buildings and artifacts in the Village have come from the surrounding area. The historic structures depict various businesses, public meeting places, homes and outbuildings for animal care. The existence of this Village is due to the foresight of the George A, Smith Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, a group of dedicated men who realized the need for preserving the heritage of this area. In 1931, David Loveless donated the John Turner cabin, several outbuildings, and his large collection of artifacts to the local Sons of Utah Pioneers. The city of Provo provided the land on which the Village stands. Since the beginning, the Sons of Utah Pioneers have expanded and improved the Village by adding buildings and artifacts and by repairing and preserving the original donations. In 2006, the George A. Smith Chapter merged with the Brigham Young Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, which took over as the official sponsor of the Village. Many visionary men have contributed time and money to the project. Hopefully, all who visit here will appreciate the faith, dedication, and determination of the pioneers who settled Provo and will desire to contribute to its preservation.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Bridal Veil Falls — 7.6 mi
  A dramatic double waterfall cascading 607 feet into Provo Canyon
• Sundance Mountain Resort — 11 mi
  Robert Redford's intimate, arts-minded ski resort on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos, in the North Fork of Provo Canyon.
• Aspen Grove — 12 mi
  The mountain-base trailhead for Mount Timpanogos and Stewart Falls
• Alpine Loop Summit — 12 mi
  The 8,000-foot high point of the Alpine Loop, face to face with Mount Timpanogos

More markers nearby

• Utah Lake Fishing Industry — steps away
• Settlement of Provo — steps away
• First Tabernacle — steps away
• Brigham Young Statue — 0.5 mi