Memorializing the West: Settling Jackson Hole

Additional histories are hidden behind the laconic language etched into markers across the West. The Daughters of Utah Pioneers Marker 123 in the center of Jackson, Wyoming celebrates the arrival of Mormon families in 1889 while eliding important context, including deeper histories of settler colonialism and violence against Native peoples. Why did Anglo Americans in the mid-20th century produce particular narratives about pioneers and settlement in the West?

Currently in its third season, Western Edition seeks to share the fascinating stories of the people and communities of the West, connecting past and present and demonstrating the tightly woven fabric of history.