Brigham Young Winter Home: Visiting St. George's Pioneer Landmark

The Brigham Young Winter Home is one of the most visited historic sites in St. George, Utah. Brigham Young, the leader who brought thousands of Mormon pioneers west to Utah, spent the last winters of his life here, escaping the cold of Salt Lake City for the warm southern Utah sun.

Today, the home and the small office beside it have been restored with 1870s furnishings and are open to the public for free guided tours. It's a peaceful place to step back in time and see how St. George's most famous resident lived.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF ST. GEORGE:

Called to Dixie: St. George Walking Tour is a self-guided GPS audio tour through historic downtown St. George that stops right outside the Brigham Young Winter Home.

Along the way you'll learn:

• Why 309 families were sent to grow cotton in the desert

• How pioneers built the St. George Tabernacle by hand

• Which downtown store has been open since the 1890s

• Who Juanita Brooks was, and why her statue matters

The walk takes about an hour.

Check out Called to Dixie: St. George Walking Tour here.

WHO WAS BRIGHAM YOUNG?

Brigham Young was born in Vermont in 1801. After the death of church founder Joseph Smith, he led the Mormon pioneers on their long journey west, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. He became Utah's first territorial governor and led the church for three decades. He sent settlers to found towns across the West, including St. George. He died in Salt Lake City in 1877.

LIFE AT THE WINTER HOME:

Brigham Young spent winters in St. George during the 1870s, when he was older and the cold was hard on his health. From his small office next to the house, he directed church business and watched over the building of the St. George Temple, the first temple completed in Utah. His wife Amelia often traveled with him.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE:

• The home—A two-story house restored to look as it did in the 1870s.

• The office—The small building where Brigham Young worked, with his desk and papers.

• The gardens—Including a cotton garden and a mulberry tree, reminders of the cotton and silk the pioneers tried to grow.

• The guides—Friendly guides share stories of pioneer family life.

TIPS FOR VISITING THE BRIGHAM YOUNG WINTER HOME:

• It's free. There's no admission charge.

• Check the hours. They change with the seasons, so look them up before you go.

• Plan about 30 to 45 minutes for the guided tour.

• Combine it with the Tabernacle. It's a short walk away and also offers free tours.

MORE PIONEER SITES IN ST. GEORGE:

• St. George Tabernacle—The red sandstone landmark pioneers spent 13 years building.

• Pioneer Courthouse—The oldest civic building in Washington County.

• Ancestor Square—A cluster of restored pioneer buildings downtown.

• St. George Temple—The first temple completed in Utah, with a visitors' center open to the public.

PLAN YOUR TRIP:

Want the full breakdown—where to eat, where to stay, and the best things to do in St. George, Utah? Our St. George travel guide covers all of it.

Check out our St. George travel guide to plan your trip.