Saturday, May 17, 2025
Pelican Lake Campground
Thursday, May 15, 2025
DMAD Reservoir Boondocking - BLM
There might be some good spots east of where we camped and there are more access roads farther south off of US 6. I've found that this map is very helpful for making sure that we are camped on BLM land. 39.40995, -112.48364
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Topaz Museum
The camp covered 640 acres of desert that had been scraped clean of all vegetation leaving fine dust to be blown around by frequent wind storms. The uninsulated wood framed and tarpapered barracks were not even finished when the first internees arrived. The long barracks were divided into living quarters for multiple families. Each family was provided with a pot-bellied stove and beds but little furniture so they built their own tables and chairs from scrap wood. What followed is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Even though the internees had lost their freedom and were forced to contend with a hostile environment, they formed clubs, planted gardens, made beautiful works of art, and attempted to create some sense of normality.
The site of the camp is about 17 miles west of the museum and can be visited. It's mostly empty desert because all of the buildings, lumber, and pipes were sold or recycled but there's a monument with an interpretive sign and a flag. We did not visit the site but we took a short drive past some of the buildings that were moved to Delta, Utah. Museum 39.35221, -112.57586
Monday, May 12, 2025
Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
The original plans for the capitol building featured four wings with a central hall topped by a large dome. The east wing is the only section of the building that was completed. Over the years it's served as a jail, school, church, meeting house, office building and now a museum.
The museum has three floors but the exhibits are a bit skimpy. The bottom floor has a hallway with hundreds of photos of early settlers. Each photo has a few sentences about the individual's life. Small rooms off of the hallway have artifacts and historic displays. The second floor has more historic exhibits. The third floor is large open room that was originally the legislative hall and is now used for dancing and meetings. Three log buildings have been relocated to the property but I don't know if they are ever open to tour.Saturday, May 10, 2025
Castle Rock Campground
The campground has thirty-one sites, some pull through and some back in. The sites in the loop at the end of the campground road are double sites and are marked as such on the site number posts. There are also two sites with teepees. Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, a couple of water faucets, and spectacular scenery. Sam Stowe Campground, near the museum, has seven full hookup sites, restrooms, and showers. Both campgrounds will accommodate long RVs.
None of the sites are designated as accessible but the ground is hard packed and the tables have extended tops.
The road to the campground is about a mile long and gravel but fine for any vehicle.