Pinto

Nothing is left of Pinto but the stones of its church, and this monument is made of them. Settlers came in 1856 to this spot in the vari-colored hills that gave it its name — pinto, for paint — beside the Old Spanish Trail. They raised a red sandstone church in 1886 and, for a while, a town remembered for its music and learning. But the years did not hold; the settlement dwindled and was abandoned, and the church came down. When their descendants raised this marker on the church's foundation, they built it from the same hewn stones.

What the plaque says

In 1856 Rufus C. Allen, Samuel F. Atwood, Lorenzo Roundy, Richard S. Robinson, Amos G. Thornton, Prime T. Coleman, Benjamin Knell, Robert Dixon and David W. Tullis settled Pinto. Their families came later. Red sandstone church was built in 1886. Richard S. Robinson was first bishop Amos G. Thornton & Benjamin Hulse counselors. Pinto was named for the vari-colored hills. Became a landmark on Old Spanish Trail. The town and church is gone but in its day it was noted for its culture. This monument stands on the site of the church and is built from its hewed stones.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Kolob Canyons — 20 mi
  The quiet, uncrowded back door to Zion National Park
• Snow Canyon State Park — 25 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 28 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge

More markers nearby

• Hamblin Cemetery — 5.0 mi
• Page Ranch House — 5.5 mi
• Old Irontown — 5.6 mi
• Short Cut/Jefferson Hunt (2) markers — 6.8 mi