Pre-Owned St. George (Paperback) 1467105988 9781467105989

Set against a rugged Mojave Desert backdrop, the St. George community is characterized by fierce determination and an abiding commitment to faith. Now, historic scenes of "Utah's Dixie" come to life in captivating archival images accompanied by fascinating research in this new volume from expert researchers Kathleen Broeder and Diane Aldrich.

St. George was founded in 1861 when over 300 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pioneer families were called on a mission to settle in a barren desert hundreds of miles from the nearest city. Pioneers grew cotton, and the warm climate reminded people of the Southern states, so it gained the nickname "Utah's Dixie." The first families strived to cultivate a life and farm on the banks of the Virgin River. Isolated from the rest of the country, St. George continued to struggle until the advent of the automobile gave it a spot on a major travel route. As more people started vacationing, St. George became a tourist destination for its proximity to national parks and, later, for its sunny days and golf courses.

Special Collections & Archives at Dixie State University has a wealth of rarely seen photographs. Most of the images curated in this book have not been seen by the public. Two Dixie State University librarians, Kathleen Broeder, head of Special Collections & Archives, and Dianne Aldrich, head of Library Public Services, seek to pass on their knowledge of local history and to open the vault to share these remarkable images with the world.