Family Reunions - Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum

Facilities

• POD – A multipurpose building with a basketball hoop, cafeteria tables, and a small kitchen. Can be slept in, but has a hard floor.
• Black Top Area – may use propane stoves, barbecue grills, and dutch ovens
• Lawn Area – with picnic tables and open grass
• Museum – Tour Utah’s Territorial Capitol built-in 1852-1855.

PIONEER TASKS & TRADES

Gain insight into the tasks and trades pioneer men, women, and children performed. These hands-on activities allow everyone to dig in and get a taste of pioneer life, along with making a few souvenirs to take home. This program is a great activity for family reunions or other groups. The program includes a museum entrance and is 2-3 hours long. Reservations are required.

Stonework                        Woodwork                    Ropemaking

Rug Loom                         Quilting                         Wool Carding & Spinning

Schoolhouse                      Spin toy                      Candlemaking

PIONEER GAMES

Pioneers worked hard for sure, but they also knew that recreation was important too. Join in and play some pioneer games. These activities are great for family reunions or other groups

Rounders is always a big hit. This early form of baseball uses homemade bats and balls, with no mitts. The rules allow for a crazy game, where any hit ball is fair. The runner gets out, by being tagged, pelted, or when the ball is caught on the fly or first bounce. All batters on a team have to get out before the inning is over. This is fun for the young and the old, the skilled and not-so-skilled players alike.

Croquet – In the 1850s, croquet was gaining popularity, especially with the youth, as it was the only game that young men and young women could play together. It is told that young men often hit a young lady’s ball into the brush, so they could help her go find it.

Graces involve throwing and catching a hoop using sticks and get fun as skill levels increase and the distance between partners increases.

Rolling Hoops is always a challenge, as the hoop rolls fast and the person has to keep up with it.

Stilts – These pioneer toys offer a challenge as the heights increase.

This fun program is 2-3 hours long depending on how intense the Rounders games get and includes entrance to the museum. Reservations and a fee of $100 are required.

PIONEER CHALLENGES/FRONTIER SETTLING

This is a fun program that focuses on several challenges early settlers in Utah faced, building shelters/homes and obtaining water.

Cabin Building Challenge – Race, with a 2-man, saw, to cut a log and build a log cabin with giant building logs, reminiscence of the pioneer’s race to build cabins & shelters for their families before the bad weather hit.

Water – Always a Challenge in Utah. Play water games & relays while learning about the pioneers of the struggle faced while trying to take care of their daily water needs and help Utah to “blossom as a rose”. Wear clothes that can get wet as water issues often lead to “fights”.

This exciting program is 2-3 hours long and includes entrance to the museum. Reservations and warm weather are required.

OLD TIME DANCE

Family/Young Groups

This is also a fun interactive experience for family reunions. In pioneer times the whole family attended and they danced late into the night and sometimes even till breakfast. This program gives a glimpse into the past when dancing was an important part of life. Small children love to dance with a parent, grandparent, sibling, or other family members. Dance isn’t normally a family reunion activity, but an Old Time Dance isn’t a normal dance and is a great activity where young and old alike can join in and enjoy each other’s company. Dance instruction and music are provided, along with cookies and water. This 2-hour program for families or young groups is great anytime. Reservations are required.