LaPoint Post Office

The land under this town was opened by breaking a promise. In 1861 the government reserved the Uinta Basin for the Ute and removed them here; then, under federal allotment policy, each Ute was assigned a small parcel and the 'surplus' was thrown open. In August 1905 thousands of white homesteaders rushed to register for the land drawing. Among them were the settlers who dug the Whiterocks canal and, in 1908, opened a store and post office at Taft, a mile south. In 1915 the little settlement moved and took the name Lapoint.

What the plaque says

In August 1905 the Uintah Indian Reservation was opened to white settlers who came and built homes. They organized Whiterocks Irrigation Company, built a canal and raised crops. In 1908 a Post Office and store was built at Taft, one mile south of here, by Baylus E. Sprouse who was the first Postmaster. Roy Warburton carried the mail from Vernal on horseback, making three trips each week and Warren Ross carried mail to and from Fort Duchesne. In 1915 the settlement of Taft was moved and renamed Lapoint.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Utah Field House of Natural History — 14 mi
  A dinosaur museum with life-size replicas in an outdoor garden
• Vernal — 14 mi
  The self-proclaimed Dinosaur Capital of Utah
• Steinaker State Park — 16 mi
  A warm-water reservoir popular for swimming in the desert heat
• McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs — 18 mi
  Massive Fremont-era rock art panels on private ranch land open to visitors

More markers nearby

• Northern Ute Veterans Memorial — 8.4 mi
• Fort Duchesne — 8.7 mi
• Fort Robidoux — 8.8 mi
• Fort Thornburgh — 12 mi