Steptoe's Millitary Camp

An army wintered here, and its commander was nearly Utah's governor. In September 1854 Colonel Edward Steptoe led a federal column — soldiers, teamsters, and hundreds of horses and mules — to this camp at Rush Lake, sent west to run down the killers of the Gunnison survey party. While he wintered, President Pierce offered him the governorship of Utah in place of Brigham Young. Steptoe declined, judging Young the people's choice, and marched on to California in the spring. The site later served as a stage station, then a smelter town called Slagtown, before the railroad came.

What the plaque says

detachment of the U.S. Army, the first to enter the Rocky Mountain region, consisting of two companies of artillery, 85 dragoons, 130 teamsters, herders and hostlers from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, under the command of Col. E.J. Steptoe, reach this point September 2, 1854. They erected quarters, stables and corrals, cut 200 cords of wood and stored 200 tons of hay for their 450 mules and 300 horses. The camp was located on the East shore of Lake Shambip (Rush Lake). The detachment left for Benicia, California, in early April, 1855. An overland Stage Station was located here from 1868 to the early 1870's. W.M. S. Godbe's Chicago ore smelter was erected here in 1871 and operated until about 1880. The place was known as Slagtown. The present line of the Union Pacific Railroad reached here in 1902.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Bingham Canyon Mine — 14 mi
  The largest man-made excavation on Earth
• Great Salt Lake — 23 mi
  The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere
• Saltair — 27 mi
  A haunting lakeside resort with a storied past
• International Peace Gardens — 32 mi
  A hidden garden where 28 countries are represented in miniature

More markers nearby

• Stockton (3) Markers — 2.2 mi
• Rock Monument (Ophir Mail Drop) — 3.0 mi
• Tooele's First Cemetery — 7.6 mi
• Early Settlers of Tooele County — 8.0 mi