Manti

Understand

History

Brigham Young sent the original Sanpete settlers there after he received an invitation by Ute Chief Walkara to send people down to the Sanpitch area to teach the Utes how to farm. The original company of 50 pioneer families arrived in the winter of 1849. The pioneers, whose first camp was established on what is now Temple Hill, spent their first winter enduring hardships of scant food and clothing, hostile Indians, and makeshift housing.

Settlers were forced to use wagons and dugouts for protection against the severe cold and the 700 Indians camped about a mile away. About half of their cattle froze to death and they were unable to get more food and supplies from Salt Lake. Winter was not the only problem, as spring approached the ground thawed and the pioneers were faced with hundreds of rattlesnakes. Miraculously not one of the settlers died from snakebite.

Get in

The town of Manti is approximately 2 hours south of Salt Lake City. To get to Manti, Take I-15 Exit 225 at Nephi. Go East on Highway 132 until it intersects with Highway 89. Follow Highway 89 south until you reach Manti.

To get to Manti from the South take I-70 Exit 56 at Salina and follow Highway 89 north until you reach Manti.

Go next

To get to Salt Lake City after the Mormon Miracle Pageant, consider heading south on Highway 89 to Gunnison, then heading north to connect with I-15 at Nephi. This may save time on crowded performances.