Portraits of the past: Iowa City park

Over a four-year period, 1856-60, 10 companies of pioneers pushed and pulled handcarts as their mode of traveling to the Utah Territory. Mormon Handcart Park in Iowa City, Iowa, is the site where many of those handcart pioneers built their handcarts and began the long walk west. Iowa City was as far as the railroad went westward in 1856. Numerous are the stories of remarkable faith and fortitude seen in the lives of these immigrants. Some of these stories are found on interpretive signs at the park. The founding and maintenance of this park, both as a nature preserve and historical site, were a cooperative effort between the University of Iowa and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A major road leading to the park is named Mormon Trek Boulevard.