'A new day' for heritage park
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With two Utah "governors" in attendance, the driving of the golden spike completing the transcontinental railroad at Promontory, Utah, in 1869 was re-enacted May 10 at This Is The Place Heritage Park in an event that signaled a "new beginning" for the park itself.
The park is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City, where President Brigham Young first gazed upon the Salt Lake Valley and uttered the now-famous words, "This is the right place; drive on."
Thus, for the park's season grand opening, the persona of President Young was present as portrayed by actor James Arrington, serving as master of ceremonies for a brief program that included remarks by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve and by Utah's present-day governor, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. Also speaking was Ellis Ivory, board chairman of the facility, formerly a state park which several years ago was privatized under the auspices of a foundation.
The golden spike theme was chosen not just because May 10 is the anniversary day, but to unveil two new rubber-tired trains representing those that met at Promontory for the 1869 ceremony. The trains will shuttle visitors from the parking areas to Heritage Village, the park's living-history attraction, and will tour the perimeter of the village from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Technical problems prevented one of the trains from being present, but the spike-driving ceremony went on as planned, with Gov. Huntsman wielding the hammer.
"Last summer, we knew that we had to make this park more user-friendly and more accessible," Brother Ivory told the assembled crowd after mentioning that over the years 46 historic buildings have been moved to or replicated on the site to commemorate the state's historical heritage.
He said the answer was trains, and that when a miniature railroad proved cost-prohibitive, the decision was made to have rubber tired trains run on a paved road surrounding the park. He introduced Jerry Shipman, a retired airline pilot from Phoenix, Ariz., who built the miniature trains.
Other new attractions include baby animals for children to see and pet and ponies to ride; a new playground; and more costumed interpreters to show visitors the historic buildings. (An upcoming Church News feature will detail what is new at the park.)
Elder Ballard, who for several years has had an advisory role with the park, proclaimed "a new day" for the attraction.
"We are here to see this wonderful park take a new step forward as a wonderful celebration of our heritage, the things that our forefathers have done for us in settling this great valley," he said. "And now we have the opportunity as their offspring to be able to walk in our own shoes and see that we do more and more to make this a living legacy, a wonderful heritage park for people of all nations, all cultures, all religions, from all parts of the world to come and understand what a great legacy we have in the wonderful valley of the Great Salt Lake."
Gov. Huntsman recalled being at the Golden Spike National Historic Site at Promontory a year ago for the annual re-enactment of the 1869 ceremony. He noted that the historic event will be depicted later this year on new quarters struck by the U.S. Mint, part of the series of new quarters that has been highlighting each of the 50 states.
He said the completion of the transcontinental railroad "was a remarkable feat for the people of the United States, because it brought the people from the East Coast together with the people on the West Coast and it made commerce and economics and the movement of people that much more viable."
E-mail to: rscott@desnews.com
