50 States: Utah

UTAH

In 1848, the United States was given land through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after winning the Mexican War. The area that is now Utah was included in this treaty. The history of Utah between 1848 and 1896 when they achieved statehood is unlike any other state in the Union. The Mormons, who were now residing in this area, wanted to create a state named "Deseret," but Congress refused to allow such a large area of land become a state. As the Mormons fought for statehood, it was revealed that they practiced polygamy which was frowned upon by the rest of the country. Congress refused to grant statehood because of this discovery. Over the next nearly 50 years, Utahns would fight for statehood. They had to make concessions in their state constitution, like banning polygamy, before it was granted. Finally, on January 4, 1896, Utah (UT) became our 45th state.

Utah is nearly 85,000 square miles; that makes it the 13th biggest state. The name "Utah" comes from the Native American tribe—"Ute." Salt Lake City is the capital and also the biggest city in the state. The nickname is the Beehive State; it represents hard work and industry. It stands to reason the state insect is the honeybee. Utah's motto is "Industry."

People who lives in Utah are referred to as Utahans or Utahns. A few of the famous people born here include:

J. Willard Marriott...entrepreneur

Butch Cassidy...outlaw

Marie Osmond...singer, actress

Donny Osmond...singer, actor

Jewel...singer

Philo T. Farnsworth...inventor

Wallace Henry Thurman...author

Other famous people have been born in Utah, though perhaps not quite as noteworthy, including some actors, athletes, and scientists.

Research Question: What did Marriott create? What did Farnsworth invent? What did Thurman write?

Some other famous beings that once resided in Utah include Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Coelophysis, Diplodocus, Iguanodon, Ornithomimus, Parasaurolophus, Stegosaurus, Utahraptor. These are just a few of the many dinosaur fossils that have been found in Utah.

The Utah state flag was adopted in 1913. A bald eagle sits atop a beehive, with the motto "Industry" in between. There are two flags and two dates: 1847 is the year the Mormons found religious freedom in Utah, and 1896 is the year Utah became a state.

Other state symbols are:

Bird...California Sea gull

Animal...Rocky Mountain Elk

Fish...Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

Insect...Honeybee

Fossil...Allosaurus

Flower...Sego Lily

Tree...Blue Spruce

Fruit...Cherry

Rock...Coal

Emblem...Beehive

You may be wondering what there is to do in Utah. I was amazed by what I found. There are a ton of interesting and beautiful places. Besides aquariums, museums, and numerous ski resorts, here are some other things to see while in Utah:

Great Salt Lake*

Golden Spike National Historic Site in Brigham City

Zion National Park in Springdale

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park in Moab

Capitol Reef National Park in Torrey

Arches National Park in Moab

Lake Powell

Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City

Thanksgiving Point Museum in Lehi

Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington

This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City

Cedar Breaks National Monument in Cedar City

Snow Canyon State Park

Natural Bridges National Monument in Lake Powell

The Sundance Film Festival takes place each year in Park City.

*The Great Salt Lake is 75 miles long and 35 miles wide. Great Salt Lake is, by definition, salty. Do you know why? (This is a good research topic.)

Check out this fun Utah learning site for kids.

The following items are available on christianbook.com. If you purchase through my site, I will receive a commission since I am an affiliate.

Utah State History Lapbook Journal - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central Get to know Utah with Knowledge Box Central's Utah State History Lapbook Journal! This Lapbook Journal PDF download is designed for students in grades 6-12 and includes both a study guide, as well as lapbook and journal pages in a single PDF file. The included state-specific study guide provides background material, historical notes, and other factual information; students will explore state symbols, songs, landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. Parents should note that this study guide is identical to the study guide in the sold-separately lapbooks (which are designed for children in Grades K-8) so that parents can cover the information once with students of all ages. Six lapbook booklets, journal pages, and blank report pages are provided in one PDF file. The journal section provides room for students to document what he or she has learned during the study; students can choose to create several booklets in the lapbook section to help improve retention of the information. Students will complete booklets and journal pages with information on the state's populations and borders, state symbols, elected officials, natural wonders, state monuments, and more. This lapbook resource is in downloadable PDF format. All elements are in a single PDF.

FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument, 2nd Utah-Colorado By Globe Pequot Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah-Colorado border offers an awesome collection of dinosaur fossils, strikingly beautiful canyons, mysterious prehistoric rock art, and geological formations. Use A FalconGuide to Dinosaur National Monument to explore the parks 330 square miles and discover the best scenic vistas and wilderness experiences in this remarkable and ancient landscape. Speaks of millions of years. Look inside to find: comprehensive information about Douglass Dinosaur Quarry facts about the area's history, flora and fauna, and weather detailed maps, trail descriptions, driving tours, and nature hikes options for running the Green River and the Yampa River lists of monument contacts, commercial raft companies, and shuttle services

Utah Curiosities By Globe Pequot

Hiking Utah, 3rd By Globe Pequot

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth By Kathleen Krull & Greg Couch (Illustrator) / Dragonfly Books