ST. GEORGE, Utah — Despite the influx of thousands of new residents in the past decade, the city of St. George in the southwest corner of Utah has maintained much of its quaint charm by vigilantly preserving its pioneer heritage.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Education played a central role in the lives of early settlers. Since 1911, youth of all ages received training in this building.

Several dozen homes and edifices built by the city's early settlers still stand, offering visitors a window to the past.

Modern-day visitors are invited to step back in history for several hours by taking either a walking tour of the homes, or an escorted tour called St. George, LIVE.

The homes and edifices are centrally located in the heart of downtown St. George. In many regards, they are much as the early builders would have known them. Among the edifices is Brigham Young's winter home where he often resided in his later years to escape the cold of Salt Lake City.

To capture the flavor of the era, volunteers dressed in clothing of the period welcome touring visitors and help them relive the history of the area and the events that took place.

The tour begins by meeting Jacob Hamblin, then moves to the Opera House to meet Orson Pratt. Erastus Snow greets visitors at the Tabernacle. At the courthouse visitors are entertained by Judge John Menzies Macfarlane, who conducts a mock trial about the improper use of irrigation water and puts one of the tour members on trial. The tour concludes at the Brigham Young Winter Home where the president greets them before they tour the home.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Orson Pratt, an apostle called to lead the southwest area of Utah, lived in this beautiful home until he was called to serve a mission to Europe.

Among the many pioneer settlements established throughout Utah and neighboring states, St. George is noted for its beautiful red rock bluffs that surround the city, a beauty that belies the nearly intolerable heat suffered by the pioneers.

Since the early 1990s, the desert setting has become an enviable place to reside.

Maps of the walking tours are readily available at hotels and other key areas, as well as the St. George Convention and Visitors Bureau located on St. George Boulevard.

The escorted tours are conducted during the months of June, July and August from Tuesday to Saturday and begin at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Cost is $3 per person. Groups can be scheduled for $2 per person.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Pioneers created their fun in the St. George Social Hall and Opera House, center of community functions and entertainment from 1875 to the 1930s.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Dr. Israel Ivins, St. George's first practicing physician, built and lived in this home. A little shop at the rear served as a drugstore where medicines were dispensed.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Prominent in the tour is Brigham Young's winter home. Here visitors are greeted by a volunteer dressed in period clothing assuming the role of the second president of the Church who would winter here.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Colorful room displaying the fine china and furniture of the home.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

The Judd Store, famous among children for candy and soda pop, was built sometime after the nearby Bently home in 1879.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Stately and picturesque, the St. George Tabernacle is an enduring monument to the testimony and devotion of the pioneers who suffered nearly intolerable heat to tame this barren land.

E-mail to: shaun@desnews.com