Iron Mission

In the 1850's Brigham Young sent Mormon missionaries to Southern Utah to mine iron. The Iron Mission faced many difficulties. Indians, floods, heavy freezes, furnace failures and crop shortages didn't stop early settlers from persevering. The Iron Mission closed in 1860 only eight years after opening.

The Iron Mission State Park is a museum that tells the story of development in Iron County since 1850. Museum displays include horse-drawn vehicles used from 1850 -1920. One intriguing display is a bullet-scarred overland stage from Butch Cassidy's era in the Four Corners area. In addition to buggies, surreys, mail carts, horse drawn farm machinery, an old milk wagon, a hearse, the museum offers other displays.

Iron Mission State Park also features over 200 Indian relics, including articles of clothing, hunting weapons and food processing tools. These Indian artifacts were once used by Southern Paiutes in southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and northern Arizona. The Paiutes were a nomadic people who traveled about the area in search of food. Their diet consisted mainly of seeds, insects and small game. These artifacts pay tribute to their way of life.

The Iron Mission State Park is eleven acres and is open year round to visitors. While it doesn't have any camping facilities there is a picnicking area. Hiking and biking trails are available nearby. Park hours are summers: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and winters 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Getting There

The park is located at 635 North Main Street in Cedar City next to the Iron County Visitors Center.

For more information regarding the park, please contact:

Iron Mission State Park
635 North Main
Cedar City, UT 84720-1079
(435) 586-9290