While the fort is the main attraction, make sure you plan the time to walk the grounds and take in the views. All around the fort, there are historic pieces that show how rural life was lived back in the 19th century, from ox lifts to a blacksmith workshop. The barn is fully restored and full of tools, and not to be missed!
The fort itself has been restored and is full of antiques that tell the life of early settlers in Utah. Volunteers stationed throughout the rooms are full of history about the pioneer life, and the origins and uses of items on display. The fort, built as a waystation for travelers on the Mormon Corridor, stands in a square shape with four 100-foot-long, 18.5-foot-high walls.
In the late 1800s, it was a daily stop for two stagecoach lines, as well as many other travelers. The fort often housed and fed up to 75 people at a time. It was a valuable resource for travelers with a resident blacksmith show-shod horses and oxen and repaired wagon wheels – his shop is still on display on the grounds.
With its telegraph office and as a Pony Express stop, it also acted as a regional communications hub.
Whether you are a history buff or looking for an immersive museum experience for the family, Cove Fort is a great way to learn more about the history of Beaver County and the people who have long called it home.
