Bluff Fort Interactive Map

Within this replica of the pioneers’ 1890s co-operative store, films can be watched that convey the hardships and determination of the San Juan pioneers. The visitors center also houses a unique gift shop where much of the inventory is handcrafted by volunteers. The second floor of the original co-op was used as a dance hall. Today it contains interpretive displays and is used for Friday night entertainment programs.

Public restrooms are located next to the visitors center and adjacent to the parking area.

This small building for the Bluff Relief Society was the center of women's activities. Spiritual, cultural, health, and home/family improvement lessons were taught, and suffrage meetings were held here in the early 1900s.

Enjoy tasty fresh-baked treats and soft serve ice cream.  Under the shade of the covered patio, you can watch videos about the pioneers’ Hole-in-the-Rock trek or observe, through the workshop window, craftsmen creating items for the gift shop. 

Enjoy tasty fresh-baked treats and soft serve ice cream.  Under the shade of the covered patio, you can watch videos about the pioneers’ Hole-in-the-Rock trek or observe, through the workshop window, craftsmen creating items for the gift shop. 

This is a traditional dwelling of the Navajo people. Hogans have a special meaning and significance within Navajo culture, being more than just a place to live, but also a sacred space for ceremonies.

This is a traditional dwelling of the Navajo people. Hogans have a special meaning and significance within Navajo culture, being more than just a place to live, but also a sacred space for ceremonies.

See how water wheels were utilized for irrigation. The success of their settlements along the San Juan River was contingent upon irrigating the parched land. Moving water from the San Juan River to the higher elevation of the farm fields of Bluff required the construction of a canal between Bluff and a location on the San Juan River far upstream.

At Montezuma Fort, 18 miles east of Bluff, and other locations where there was sandstone near the river for anchoring, the pioneers constructed water wheels to direct water into hand-dug ditches.

Pan for gold. Pyrite for sure!

In the early 1890’s, it was reported that gold was discovered in the area around the San Juan River. Hundreds, and some say thousands, of people flocked to the Bluff, Utah area to get rich. Most of the finds were in the form of “flour gold,” gold so fine it could not be recovered.

The original Bluff Fort consisted of approximately 50 single-room log cabins arranged in a square, with all doors and windows facing in. Today 14 log cabins have been built by pioneer descendants. These provide a semblance of the original fort and a glimpse into life on the frontier.

For details about the Butt family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Josephine Wood (Aunt Jody) was given the call (assignment) to be the midwife and nurse.

For details about the Wood family, see “Pioneer Journals” and “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

For details about the F.I Jones and Mackelprang families, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website. 

This display, created by the Holyoak family descendants, illustrates camp life during the journey to Bluff, as well as much of the first year in the valley. The priority of the men upon their arrival was the construction of an irrigation ditch and farming. It wasn’t until the latter part of their first year that time could be spent on the construction of a one-room log cabin for each family. Even then most families could not fit in one room and wagons and tents accommodated the older children.

For details about the Holyoak family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Charles was the schoolteacher. Although school was held in the log meetinghouse, the Walton descendants chose to set up their cabin as a schoolroom.

For details about the Walton family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

For details about the Bayles family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website. See also the Scorup biography.

Six Decker families (siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a grandparent) all made the difficult Hole-in-the Rock journey together.

For details about the Decker families, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Elsie and Jens Nielson were making the difficult trek to Utah in 1856 with the Willie Handcart Company when their five-year-old son, Jens Jr., and nine-year-old Bodil Mortenson (who was accompanying them) succumbed to the lack of food and severe winter conditions.

Jens was an influential leader and chaplain of the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition. When the going got tough and the pioneers found the terrain was next to impossible, he stated, “If we Saints have plenty of Stickie-ta-tudy, we cannot fail.” This was his Danish way of saying “stick to it" or "stick to duty."

For details about the Nielson family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

George B. Hobbs participated in every exploring expedition, including the first expedition via Arizona that established Montezuma Fort.

For details see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website. See also the biographies of the families of George’s sisters Sarah Elizabeth Hobbs Harriman and Ellen Agnes Fielding.

Thales Haskell was called as a missionary to the Native Americans of the southwest, including the Hopi, Utes, and Navajos. His diplomacy and native language skills proved invaluable to the Bluff settlers.

For details about the Haskell family, see “Pioneer Biographies" in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Blacksmiths were crucial to the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition, as well as the ongoing success of the Bluff settlement. In 1885 Amasa and a Navajo man were killed in a conflict at the Rincon, nine miles west of Bluff.

For details about the Amasa Barton family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Throughout his life, Melvin Gaines, a life-long resident of Bluff, collected the Bluff pioneers’ farm equipment and irrigation digging tools. He generously donated his collection to the Bluff Fort. An interpretive sign explains the purpose of each implement.

For details about the James Redd family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

For details about the Lemuel H. Redd, Jr. family,  see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

The Barton cabin, with its cottonwood logs and dirt-thatched roof, is the only original San Juan pioneer cabin remaining.  

For details about the Joseph and Harriet Barton family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Platte D. Lyman was the assistant leader of the Hole-in-the Rock trek. His sister Lydia was also a member of the expedition, as were brothers Walter and Edward. Platte D. kept the only (near) daily journal of the trek. See “Pioneer Journals” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

For details about the Lyman families, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

Hyrum and Benjamin, nicknamed the “blowers and blasters” from Wales, were key engineers of the pioneers’ road down the Hole-in-the-Rock and at other challenging sites along the trail.

For details about the Perkins families, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

This home showcases the fine craftsmanship that typifies stone homes built in Bluff in the 1890s. Decades later this home burned. Portions of the home have now been restored and a stage for performances has been constructed.

For details about the Kumen Jones family, see “Pioneer Biographies” in the “Learn More” section of this website.

The large covered pavilion, which is adjacent to the public parking area, is a great place for a family picnic. The raised stage, against the backdrop of the Kumen Jones’ stone home, provides a wonderful setting for summer evening performances.

This is a full-scale replica of Bluff’s first meetinghouse. The structure is built of cottonwood logs, just like the original. The original meetinghouse served as the church, school, courthouse and community center. Today the meetinghouse is utilized on Sundays as the visitors center for the Bluff Fort Historic Site.

Youngsters love sitting on or roping a log horse or steer.

John Taylor was Brigham Young’s successor and the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the San Juan Mission was established.  Adjacent to the statue is a stone monument in honor of the San Juan pioneers.

Climb into a covered wagon for a photo op and hold the line of life-size horse replicas.