“A pioneer should have imagination…” ― Willa Cather, O Pioneers!
Happy Pioneer Day to Utahns and to all who celebrate the spirit of adventure, the courage of ancestors who sacrificed to make a better life for themselves and for their posterity, and to all who are modern-day pioneers in this world of ours. A beautiful day of gratitude for your imagination!

Happy Pioneer Day in Utah and all around the world! Wikipedia states:

Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois, and other locations in the eastern United States.^]Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event. Similar to July 4, many local and all state-run government offices and many businesses are closed on Pioneer Day.

In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Latter-day Saints throughout the United States and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Church’s pioneer era, with songs, dances, potlucks, and pioneer related activities.

While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is officially a celebration of everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era, which is generally considered to have ended with the 1869 arrival of the transcontinental railroad. Notable non-LDS American pioneers from this period include Episcopal Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle, who was responsible for Utah’s first non-Mormon schools (Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s) and first public hospital (St. Mark’s) in the late 1800s. The Intertribal Powwow at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City honors the cultural heritage and contributions of the area’s Native Americans, helping Utahns to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s history…The centennial in 1947 and the sesquicentennial in 1997 were especially large celebrations in Utah. One writer indicated that the 1947 celebrations seemed to incorporate the entire year, with July 24 only being an apex to the events. 

Mormon pioneers migrated involuntary — the result of expulsion from Illinois and Missouri by hostile neighbors. Later, the Mormon pioneer trail would be filled with converts coming from Europe. (Read detailed history of Mormon Pioneers on Church History Website)

President Thomas S. Monson, then second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency, noted in 1988:

“That first trek of 1847, organized and led by Brigham Young, is described by historians as one of the great epics of United States history. Mormon pioneers by the hundreds suffered and died from disease, exposure or starvation. There were some who, lacking wagons and teams, literally walked the 1,300 miles across the plains and through the mountains, pushing and pulling handcarts. In these groups, one in six perished.” Mormon Newsroom

Celebrating Pioneer Day by remembering those who sacrificed greatly to begin a new life in a new place can include fun activities of all kinds. Many years ago our family participated in a re-enactment of the pioneer trek while we were in Nauvoo, Illinois for a family reunion. Our grandchildren pulled hand-carts through creeks and rough terrain, listened to pioneer stories, and “sang as they walked and walked.” This experience gave them a flavor of what so many of our ancestors went through! Over the years, many family members have been able to experience longer, more difficult pioneer trek re-enactments and we have all learned more about the sacrifices made to find a home where they could have the freedom to live as they believed. We love all of the stories we know of these courageous ancestors, and celebrating them is a fun tradition for us. Their lives have influenced ours for the better and we could never be grateful enough for their fortitude, determination, and faith.

  The Family History Guide can help you discover your ancestors and learn of the sacrifices they made in all areas of the world to find a better life and follow their dreams. See projects for FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast. In addition to the videos and documents shown in each of the individual projects, there is a huge collection of additional resources waiting for you in the Vault. Find fun family history activities in the Activities Section.

Discover your pioneer ancestors here. Re-enactments of the Pioneer trek can be life-changing! Re-enactments Still Impact Lives