Gone to camp: Visit Camp Floyd to see a part of Utah’s history
The Army Commissary at Camp Floyd now houses a museum about the camp. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
The Fairfield District Schoolhouse at Camp Floyd. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
The Stagecoach Inn (two-story blue building on the right) has a large park and pavillion near its grounds. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
Caleb Eyre looks at one of the displays at the Army Commissary at Camp Floyd, which now houses a museum. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
The trees (near a creek) was the dividing line between Camp Floyd in the 1850s and the city of Fairfield. Most of the land is privately owned now. At left is the Army Commissary that houses the Camp Floyd museum. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
I always thought Eagle Mountain sat on the edge of the Earth. But for our latest adventure, Eagle Mountain was put in our rear view as we continued to drive west to Camp Floyd and Stagecoach Inn State Park.
Camp Floyd was created in the mid-1850s. Believing Mormons were rebelling against the laws of the United States, President James Buchanan dispatched 3,500 troops, nearly one-third of the entire U.S. Army, to suppress the rumored rebellion in Utah. No rebellion or war ever took place in Utah. However, the Army stayed to monitor the Mormons, explore the Western frontier and provide safety for immigrants moving west to California, Oregon and Washington.
Camp Floyd, named in honor of Secretary of War John Floyd, was built by the Army with the help of local citizens, providing a financial boost to the local economy. At its height, Camp Floyd was the largest military installation in the United States. The population of Camp Floyd and the town of Fairfield grew to 7,000, making it the third largest city in the Utah Territory.
There isn’t anything left of the actual camp today, except for the Commissary Building that houses the museum. In fact, most of the land the camp sat on is privately owned. But artifacts discovered by archeological digs and by private citizens are on display at the small museum at the state park.
The small cases display keys, intricately carved tobacco pipes, tea cups and flatware, and other items for day-to-day living. Also on display were items specific to soldiers: bullets, bullet molds, a cannon ball and a gunpowder case.
While the museum is small, my kids liked looking through it, and especially liked the video playing: It was showing a computer-generated virtual tour of what the camp looked like at its height, set to marching songs such as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”
The park ranger at the camp was very helpful and friendly. She’s working on a grant right now to add more interpretations to the museum’s displays, and the parks department is also working on acquiring more of the land where the camp sat in order to preserve it and perhaps recover more artifacts.
Also part of the state park is Stagecoach Inn, which is across the street from the museum. Built in 1858, it was the first stop south of Salt Lake City on the Overland Stage Route as well as a stop of the Historic Pony Express Route. It was restored in 1959. It was fun to point out the tin bathtub and the commode chair, among other period pieces of furniture. The ladies gloves and a top hat are nice touches.
For special events and field trips, the park also has the Fairfield District Schoolhouse, a beautiful, brick building built in 1898 designed by the same architect who designed the Peteetneet Elementary School in Payson and Maeser Elementary School in Provo.
The one-room schoolhouse is around the corner from the other two buildings, so on slower days, the park keeps it locked.
On our next visit, we’ll be sure to pack a lunch to eat in the large park and pavilion next to Stagecoach Inn. Large trees provide shade in the hot summer months, but on the warm spring day we visited, just running around on the large lawn made the trip fun.
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Camp Floyd
Where: 18035 W. 1540 North, Fairfield. Take Lehi Main Street west, through Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain and Cedar Fort, to Fairfield. There is a sign directing you to take a left to the camp, just off the highway. It’s about 22 miles from Lehi.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: $2 per person, or $6 per family, Seniors $1
Info: (801) 768-8932, www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/camp-floyd
Etc.: Camp Floyd has a junior ranger program. Fill in the activity book and receive a junior ranger badge; the program is geared toward elementary-aged children. My kids aren’t old enough to read, so it wasn’t as interesting to them