Weber Canyon has always been the most important gateway into the Great Salt Lake Valley. Through its portals passed many notable persons of early Utah history including John Weber, a trapper, who is supposed to have been killed by Indians in the winter of 1828-29, Etienne Provost, who in 1824 reported one of the first explorations of the river, Osborne Russell, who reported exploration in 1841.
In 1846 California emigrants took the first wagons down into Weber Canyon encountering many hardships and suffering severe losses. They included the James Hudspeth, Bryant Russell, Young and Harlan parties.
In this vicinity, the Donner-Reed party of 1846 which later met a tragic fate on the east slope of the Sierras in California turned southwest and blazed a trail through the mountains to the Salt Lake Valley. This trail was followed by the Mormon Pioneers in 1847, the California Gold Rush emigrants in 1849-50, the Mormon Handcart Pioneers and Overland Stage in 1856, and the Pony Express 1860-61.
Founded by Summit County Restaurant Tax and Summit County Historical Society. Built in 1990 by Boy Scouts of American Troop 681 and restored in 1999 by D. H. Evans Varsity Scout Team 523 Eagle Scout Project. The aging wood was replaced with steel in 2015 by Summit County Historical Society.
