Simpson Springs

Simpson Springs was a water source on the trail west from Salt Lake City across the desert regions. It was first called Egan Spring for explorer Howard Egan, but renamed Simpson Springs for Captain James H. Simpson following his work to establish a military mail route to California in 1858.[1] [2][3]

The site was undoubtedly used by Native Americans and possibly the Fremont Indian cultures due to its good water supply. The old river bed several miles west has provided evidence of indigenous activity.[2][4]

Simpson Springs was established as an Overland Mail station by George Chorpenning for mule train connection between Salt Lake and Sacramento.[2] It later became an important Pony Express, Overland Stage, and later, Wells Fargo stations on the trail through Utah desert. The station was discontinued after completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. It continued to be used for local freight between Fairfield and Ibapah into the 1890s.[2]

The location was used as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In January 1942, the U.S. military established Dugway Proving Ground in the area, which was occupied by military personnel through World War II.[2] The existing building on the site was built by the Future Farmers of America as a replica in 1975.[3]

Simpson Springs lies in Tooele County, Utah at an elevation of about 5,000 ft (1,500 m) on a bajada of the northwest flank of the Simpson Mountains. The Simpson Buttes lie a few miles to the west within the Dugway military reservation. The site lies on the Simpson Springs Road portion of the historic Pony Express Trail 26 mi (42 km) west of Vernon, Utah.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Van Cott, J. W. (1990). Utah Place Names. ISBN 0-87480-345-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Simpson Springs". Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Simpson Springs". National Park Service. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ Jessop, Jaromy (July 30, 2010). "Pony Express Trail Exploration Part VII: Simpson Springs". Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  5. ↑ Berge, Dale R. (1980). "Simpson Springs Station: Historical Archaeology in Western Utah" (pdf). Cultural Resource Series No. 6. Provo, Utah: Bureau of Land Management, Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2010-10-01.

Coordinates: 40°2′16″N 112°47′11″W / 40.03778°N 112.78639°W / 40.03778; -112.78639


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