Horace A. Sorensen

This headquarters exists because of Horace Sorensen. A Sugar House furniture dealer, he and his wife Ethel spent decades rescuing pioneer buildings and artifacts that everyone else was tearing down—log cabins, a stone chapel, whole shops—and assembled them into a living-history 'Pioneer Village' on their own land. He gave the collection to the Sons of Utah Pioneers, and when it was later sold to Lagoon amusement park, the proceeds paid for this building. Sorensen also led the long campaign to turn the old Sugar House prison grounds into a public park.

What the plaque says

In recognition of significant contribution to the Sons of the Utah Pioneers, the Sugarhouse Chapter expresses thanks and appreciation to Horace A. Sorensen February 6, 1899 - May 2, 1977 Horace Sorensen served as National President during consecutive terms from 1954 through 1956. Under his leadership, membership grew from eleven to thirty-five chapters. He also served as President of the Sugarhouse Chapter during 1949 and 1950. Horace performed a vital role in the construction of the National Headquarters facility, located at the mouth of Parley's Canyon, by providing significant financial assistance. On October 31, 1950, the Sorensen barn located at the family's estate on Connor Street (Salt Lake City, Utah) was remodeled into a small museum dedicated by President George Albert Smith. This expanding collection was later donated to the Sons of the Utah Pioneers on November 6, 1953. The collection is housed at Lagoon (Farmington, Utah) and has grown into more than thirty buildings, homes, shops, etc. The sale of Pioneer Village to Lagoon Corporation provided the initial funds toward construction of the SUP Headquarters. Horace was very prominent in converting the old penitentiary site into Sugarhouse Park where President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the SUP monument which was erected in June, 1988. Railroad Village, begun by the Sons of Utah Pioneers at Corrine, Utah, to commemorate the Golden Spike 100th Anniversary in 1969, was spearheaded by Horace Sorensen. The Chapter also extends appreciation to his wife, Ethel Melville Sorensen, and his family, who supported him in these endeavors. Sugarhouse Chapter, 1988

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

• 1997 Sesquicentennial Trekkers — steps away
• Mormon Pioneer Trail, Centennial Trekkers — steps away
• Handcart Companies — steps away
• Early Pioneer Mills — steps away