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Bluff Fort is a recreation of the original settlement of Bluff, Utah. After traveling nearly 200 miles over rough terrain, Mormon settlers founded Bluff in 1880. The original “fort” consisted of several inward facing cabins.
Admission
Admission to Bluff Fort is free and its open daily. Visitors are welcome to roam through the grounds off-hours when the buildings are closed.
Visitor Center
First, we went through the visitor center and gift shop. They have excellent displays and a great video about the struggle to reach Bluff by traveling down the infamous Hole in the Rock Trail during the San Juan Expedition. It focused mainly on the positive attitude of the pioneers who took part in an expedition that was planned for six weeks but instead took six months.
Bluff Fort
Outside, there are several historic structures and replica cabins on display as well as some monuments.
Carts and Wagons
Next to the visitor center are replica handcarts much like the ones Mormon pioneers would have used. An original wagon that traveled on the Hole in the Rock Trail is also on display.
Native American Homes
Directly across from the visitor center is a Ute tepee and Navajo hogan. The hogan is made of cedar logs covered in mud, which keeps the inside cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Cabins
Continuing in a clockwise direction are 15 cabins. Each cabin represents one of the pioneer families that settled in Bluff. The cabins are organized much like Bluff Fort would have been.
Inside each cabin are personal artifacts donated by the ancestors of the pioneer families. The history of each family is displayed as well as photos.
The cabins contain furniture, household items, and more. One of the families elected to have their cabin set up as a school room because their ancestor was a prominent teacher. Another cabin is set up as a blacksmith shop.
The only original cabin on display is the Joseph Barton Cabin. It gives a good insight into how the cabins were built.
Kumen Jones Home
Next are the remains of the Kumen Jones Home. This elegant Victorian brick home was built soon after Bluff became an actual town. It burned down in 1975 and the ruins on display are all that remain.
Meeting House
Finally, to complete the circle is the old log meeting house. After meeting under trees for quite some time, the residents got together to build a meeting house. It also served as a school, courthouse, and community center.
Monuments
In the center of the fort are a few monuments. One tells the history of Fort Montezuma and lists the names of the pioneers who took part in the scouting party. Another depicts John Taylor (1808-1887), the third president of the LDS Church who called for the settlement of Bluff to be established.
The largest monument is dedicated to the Hole in the Rock pioneers. It lists the names of those who took part in the expedition and settled Bluff.
Jens Nielson House
Across the street from the visitor center is the Jens Nielson House. Nielson (1821-1906) was a Danish immigrant and an important leader on the Hole in the Rock Expedition. He also served as the first Mormon bishop of Bluff for 26 years.
