Through a collaborative partnership between Southern Utah University and the Frontier Homestead State Park and Museum, a new Native Heritage Exhibit has been added to the museum.
“The exhibit provides an opportunity for visitors to walk back in time and see dwellings and other cultural features of the ancient inhabitants of southwestern Utah,” said Project Archaeology state coordinator Samantha Kirkley.
The new Native Heritage Exhibit is an interactive experience for park visitors and features native vegetation, a replica Fremont pithouse, Fremont rock art, Paiute wikiups, and a faux excavation area.
SUU faculty, staff, and students invested hundreds of volunteer hours to develop the exhibit, which was organized by Kirkley, Todd Prince, Frontier Homestead State Park manager, and Dr. Jim McDonald, SUU dean of humanities and social sciences.
According to Kirkley, evidence found on the Paragonah site, which was preserved by SUU, aided in recreating the Fremont pithouses. The wikiups were built using photos from the late 1800s of shelters south of Cedar City.
“This project is important because most of the community is familiar with the European/pioneer settlement of Iron County but less people are familiar with the long line of Native American history dating back thousands of years,” said Prince.
To learn more about the new Native Heritage Exhibit, visit the website.
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