On This Day: Mormon Handcart Expedition Begins

On June 9,

1856, thousands of Mormon pioneers set out in a handcart expedition

that would become an historic westward migration, marked by tragedy and

many successes.Motivated by faith and a desire to practice their religion without fear

of persecution, 497 pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints, frequently referred to as Mormons, set out on a

weeks-long trip to travel more than 1,000 miles from Iowa City, Iowa,

to the Salt Lake City area, History.com explains.

Ten handcart companies made the trip, Deseret News reported. William

Hartley, a history professor at Brigham Young University, told the

paper that in large part, the trip was not an extremely hard venture

for many, with most of the 3,000 travelers arriving safely in Utah

between 1856 to 1860. For the church, handcarts were born of

necessity. Many pioneers were poor and didn't have the financial means

necessary to secure enough wagons and supplies for the trip. Brigham

Young, the religious leader of the Mormons, suggested the handcarts as

a more economical means of travel, according to History.com.