“Let us never forget the cost of our faith.” Gordon B. Hinckley
The Memorial
Thousands of pioneer children walked, rode and camped their way through more than 1,300-miles of trail from Council Bluffs, Iowa to the Land of Zion in Utah. It was an adventure for most. They played and argued like most children. They picked berries, slept out under the stars, and danced. Most made it to Utah no worse for the wear. Tragically, however, 684 of them died on the trail.
The Days of '47, Inc. and This Is The Place Heritage Park, with the help of generous donors, have created a striking, new Pioneer Children's Memorial to honor the 684 children who lost their lives while making their way to Zion on the pioneer trail in the mid-1800’s.
The new memorial is located at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the names of the children are etched in stone so they will never be forgotten. Their stories are told through a variety of innovative, time-honored, artistic expressions that bring them and the trail to life. Come and see for yourself. The stories are tender, you’ll feel connections and your heart will be touched.
Artistic creativity and symbolism
Over thirty bronze statues tell the stories
Featured Story
Emily Hill
Have a fascinating story to tell?
There are many stories hiding in attics, old trunks and on computer drives waiting to be told. Search your own ancestry. Do you descend from ancestors who lost children along the trail? You can add their stories to the website too.
In addition to your story, please include such things as Birth Date, Family Search ID number, Parents' Names, etc. Anything that will aid in our verification process. Thank you for your stories.
Visit The Memorial
“Children of the Trail” Newsletter
To receive more information about the pioneer children’s memorial and how you can help it grow, please provide your name and email address in the form below.
Find Your Family
Learning about your ancestors will help you better understand who you are. It will create a family bond linking the present to the past, and will build a bridge to the future. We invite you to bring your ancestors to life and tell their stories on the Pioneer Children’s Memorial website. For more information on how to find them, follow the link below.