Cove Fort

On a beautiful Sunday morning the kids and I say goodbye to Salt Lake, and begin the first leg of our journey down the I-15 on our way back home to California.  I listen to NPR and a book on CD while the kids are content to play with their ipods and watch the classic musical "Annie" on the van's DVD in anticipation of viewing the Tuacahn production the following evening in St. George. 

About mid-morning and halfway between Fillmore and Beaver we come upon Cove Fort, a restored fort and historical sight owned by the LDS church.  We've passed by it a hundred times going back and forth on our travels, but we always seem to be in a hurry, on a schedule, too busy to visit.  I decide that today is the perfect day to stop and inject a little bit of religion and history into our road trip. 

The day is slightly overcast and there's a bit of a breeze as we get out of the van and stroll across the grass to our first stop at the clean restrooms.  We are almost immediately greeted by a nice, older missionary couple, necessary tour guides if we want to go inside the fort.  After viewing a short introductory historical film about the site (which the kids enjoy far more than I thought they would) we walk over to enter the fort. 

Cove Fort was constructed (we learn) in the 1860's using volcanic rock which accounts for its longevity over most other structures of the same period. 

entering the main gates past the six feet thick walls

reconstructed kitchen -  a lot of interesting historical details

Never really a fort in a military sense, 

it was more of a way station and refuge

 for travelers in the area, as well as a post office, 

telegraph station, and a stop on the Pony Express

the main courtyard - 

we learn those trees are older than the fort 

posing atop the main gate

looking over the fort walls towards the ancient volcano which

most likely provided the rock quarried for the fort

our guides are the Salsbury's from Washington state - they 

have 12 children including 3 (!) sets of twins 

Brother Salsbury demonstrates a pioneer wood spinning toy -

he then gives it to us as a souvenir

pioneer girl, or, Laura Ingalls Wilder

kids get to try their skillz at hoop rolling, pioneer style 

more difficult than it looks, Jed soon finds out

Jack gets the hang of it

cool water fountain in a barrel

last stop is in the giant barn which is a

replica of the original barn

tasting the salt lick.  yuck. 

Overall the kids and I are pleased with our stop at Cove Fort. 

 It is a beautifully restored historical structure that shows 

a slice of life from over one hundred years ago

 with authentic artifacts and detailed reconstructions, 

and is rich with stories from the early days of the settlers in Utah. 

The kids enjoy the break but are ready to get back on the road home.  

They proceed to use the rest of the drive to Grandpa's condo 

in St. George practicing the art of dollar bill origami. 

Meet "Bill" the elephant 

"George" the eagle, "Bill" the elephant, and some serious green bling 

our most expensive hobby yet 

(or maybe the cheapest)