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Bluff Fort Historic Site: A Pioneer Legacy

Explore pioneer history at Bluff Fort, where you can experience the lives of the settlers who braved the Hole-in-the-Rock trail in the 1880s.

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Step back in time at Bluff Fort, a living history museum in southeastern Utah. Explore reconstructed cabins, a meetinghouse, and interactive exhibits that tell the story of Mormon pioneers who settled this rugged land in the 1880s, offering a glimpse into their arduous journey and daily life.

A brief summary to Bluff Fort Historic Site

Local tips

  • Visit during the spring or fall for pleasant weather, as summers can be hot and winters can be cold.
  • Check out the replica Co-op Store for local treats and unique souvenirs.
  • Take time to watch the multi-media presentation about the Hole-in-the-Rock and San Juan Mission to fully appreciate the pioneers' journey.
  • On Sundays, the visitor center is closed, but you can still walk the grounds and see the buildings from the outside.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    Bluff Fort is located at 550 Black Locust Ave in Bluff, Utah. From most lodging options in Bluff, the fort is easily accessible by foot. Walking west on Black Locust Ave, the fort will be on your right. The walk is generally flat and well-paved.

  • Driving

    If driving from outside of Bluff, take US-191 to Black Locust Ave. Turn west onto Black Locust Ave, and continue to 550 Black Locust Ave. Free parking is available on the street near the fort. Be aware that parking can be limited during peak tourist season.

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Discover more about Bluff Fort Historic Site

Bluff Fort Historic Site commemorates the original pioneer town founded by Mormon missionaries at the end of their expedition to settle the San Juan area in 1880. The site offers an interactive historical experience, featuring recreations of the town, complete with a meetinghouse and cabins furnished with some original items donated by local families. Visitors can tour reconstructed log cabins and Native American dwellings, sit on covered wagons, and learn about the lives of these remarkable pioneers. Significant attractions include an authentic replica of the Bluff Meetinghouse, which served as the social epicenter of the community as a church, school, courthouse, and dance hall, and the Barton Cabin, the oldest existing pioneer structure in San Juan County. Of the original forty or so cabins that once formed the fort, the Barton Cabin is the only original structure remaining. A stone monument erected in 2005 stands at the center of Bluff Fort Historic Site as a proud reminder of the original pioneers and their treacherous 250-mile Hole-in-the-Rock trek. Recent additions include a replica of the original Co-op Store, completed in 2013, which serves as a visitor center and gift shop and features interactive displays such as a 'talking wall' and a multi-media presentation about the Hole in the Rock and San Juan Mission. Another recent addition is the giant waterwheel in the center of the grounds, where visitors can try their hand at gold panning. Bluff Fort is dedicated to preserving the history and sharing the legacy of the San Juan Mission Pioneers, who sold farms and businesses in established communities to answer a call from church leaders to colonize southeast Utah territory and establish peaceable relations with the Native American tribes of the four corners region.

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