New Harmony

New Harmony is the third town of its name, each pushed to the next by trouble. The first Harmony was a fort Elisha Groves and John D. Lee built on Ash Creek in 1852; abandoned in 1854, it gave way to Fort Harmony, whose adobe walls the rains of 1862 finally dissolved. The survivors moved once more and founded New Harmony, raising a log schoolhouse in 1863 and, through shared effort, a frame meeting hall. For nearly a hundred years a bell atop that hall called the town to church, to school, and to every public gathering it held.

What the plaque says

In 1852 Elisha H. Groves, John D. Lee and others built a fort on Ash Creek, called Harmony. The fort was abandoned in 1854 and a new site located called Fort Harmony. Following disastrous floods in 1862 settlers again moved and established New Harmony where the first log school house was built in 1863. Through community effort a frame structure was erected. For nearly a century the bell atop this building called citizens to church, school and all other public gatherings. Wilson D. Pace served as first Bishop.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Kolob Canyons — 7.8 mi
  The quiet, uncrowded back door to Zion National Park
• Zion National Park — 20 mi
  Towering sandstone cliffs that glow like fire at sunset
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 21 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge
• Grafton Ghost Town — 25 mi
  A photogenic ghost town used in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

More markers nearby

• Military Training Camp Site — 0.6 mi
• Fort Harmony — 3.6 mi
• Southern Indian Mission — 3.6 mi
• Fort Kanarra — 8.0 mi