Dr. Ty Harrison's Story A special unveiling took place on October 11 of a monument to a man who touched countless lives, and had more titles than the letters in his name. The eastern edge of Hidden Hollow Nature Preserve in Sugar House was officially renamed and dedicated to Dr. Ty Harrison, Emeritus Professor of Biology at Westminster College, an environmentalist, … [Read more...]
Sculpture Memorializes a Man and His Mission in Sugar House
Jim Kirkman Jim Kirkman was known as many things to his friends and family in Sugar House: Master Gardener, educator, an encyclopedia of desert knowledge, an archaeologist with a reverence for what came before us—and a selfless individual always willing to lend a hand. Kirkman passed away in May from cancer, but his legacy lives on in the form of a sculpture crafted from … [Read more...]
Southeastern Utah Delicate Arches
The arches of southeastern Utah are monuments to earth’s history; but how fragile are they and how long will they last? Arches, such as Delicate Arch, are delicate to different degrees depending on size, life cycle, composition, and material. Utah Delicate Arches Natural arches are formed from various types of natural materials such as shale, limestone, basalt, granite, and … [Read more...]
Off the eaten path—seven of the best hidden culinary stops in Utah
Authentic eats on the road in Utah There are so many authentic Utah eateries to choose from, but in a state as large as Utah, you sometimes have to put in some serious mileage to find the restaurant gems that make the Beehive State so unique. However, I’ve done some of the legwork for you. You’re welcome. Here are seven of a few of my favorite, authentic Utah eateries that … [Read more...]
Liberty Wells Historic District
Liberty Wells before it was Liberty Wells In 2011, two Salt Lake City neighborhoods officially merged to become the Liberty Wells Historic District, but the story of the area’s development begins in the 1800s. Imagine it’s 1875. You have journeyed to 900 S, the southern edge of the city. The urban blocks, the original Plat of the City of Zion, are 10-acre squares. … [Read more...]
The Giant Flying Manta-Ray of Provo Utah
About eleven years ago a woman shared an interesting story with me. Late one June night she was walking along University Ave., a little after 10 PM and near 300 South when she saw a “gigantic black manta-ray” flying across the Provo sky. “This thing was four-hundred feet in the air, coming from the South-East and flying North-West. It had a fourteen-foot wingspan and its body … [Read more...]
Japantown: Ruined, Remembered or Revived?
Attending the University of Utah in 1953 retired Third District Court Judge Raymond Uno spent much of his free time in downtown Salt Lake City in an area called Japantown, or “JTown”, practicing judo and socializing with friends. It was a stark contrast to the three years during World War II when his family was forced from California to what he calls a … [Read more...]
A Colony of Utah Vikings Reenact Norse History
When I was a little girl, I pretended to be on some exciting adventure. I pretended to be a warrior-princess or an Indiana Jones figure. I played with swords, bows and arrows, and I rode horses in the wilderness without the supervision of adults. My childhood interests followed me into adulthood. I became very interested in world history and family history. About five years … [Read more...]
Local Native Wildlife: Pigeons, Squirrels, and Blackbirds, Oh My!
As a longtime promoter of local native wildlife, I have always been intrigued by native animals adapting to the urban environments of Salt Lake City. Native deer, doves, and ducks all do well and whole herds of mule deer now live well within city limits. Many mourning doves now raise their young in our neighborhoods and no longer migrate south as they had done for millennia. … [Read more...]
Parowan Gap: Secrets of the Past
When considering the greatest archaeological treasures and the sophistication of the former ancient inhabitants of Utah, the small town of Parowan may not come to mind. But in Southern Utah there is a mysterious place known for its sliding sunsets, moon maps, and a strange outcropping of rocks known as the Overseer. Welcome to the Parowan Gap. The Gap is the first … [Read more...]