Wight's Fort Cemetery

This burial ground began with two babies. Around 1853, on a low knoll south of Wight's Fort, settlers buried a Native infant; when the first pioneer child of West Jordan died soon after — a son of Lyman and Harriet Wight — they laid him in the ground beside the first. Two children of two peoples, side by side, started the cemetery that holds the fort's founding families. The soft sandstone headstones have worn nearly smooth in the years since, but the place is tended, and its first families are still remembered by name.

What the plaque says

Wight's Fort Cemetery In the fall of 1854, construction on a fort began about 100 yards northwest of this cemetery. The uncertainty caused by the Walker Indian War and Brigham Young's urging to "Fort Up" had created a flurry of fort building that year. This fort was constructed from stones, mud, and logs, the walls being twelve feet high. The fort enclosed two and one-half acres, seven log cabins, several other buildings and a part of Bingham Creek, which at that time had a "nice flow of water". The fort was named for the Lewis and Nancy Wight family including two sons. With the Wights were John Irving, Joseph Stacy, J. H. Murdock, John Loveless, John Elmer, and Sheldon Cutler who worked on the fort through the winter. The fort was finished and occupied by the spring of 1855. The cemetery was located on this site after the pioneers had discovered the grave of an Indian baby. Lewis' son, Lyman and his wife, Harriet, buried their firstborn child near the Indian grave. Later John Irving buried his son here also. From that point, the area became a community burial ground. There are many unmarked graves. Restored by The Sons of Utah Pioneers, Jordan River Temple Chapter, 2015. Original monument and plaque by Eagle Scouts Jason and Scott Goudie. Site #190

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• International Peace Gardens — 9.5 mi
  A hidden garden where 28 countries are represented in miniature
• Bingham Canyon Mine — 10 mi
  The largest man-made excavation on Earth
• Liberty Park — 12 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882
• Gilgal Sculpture Garden — 12 mi
  A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood

More markers nearby

• Welby — 1.0 mi
• Broom Factory and Wagon Train terminal — 2.0 mi
• Air Pirates Memorial — 2.1 mi
• West Jordan City Park Salt Lake and Utah Railroad — 2.1 mi