Cedar City Prepares For Birthday Celebration

Cedar City is getting ready to throw a birthday bash for the ages. The age of 172 to be specific. The city will celebrate its 172^nd birthday with activities and celebrations planned form November 9^th, a Thursday through Sunday November 12^th. The events are presented by the Cedar City Historic Preservation Commission.

With our population now approaching 40,000, the city has come a long way from some modest beginnings. It was November 11^th, 1851 when the area first began to be settled. A group of 35 men arrived from Parowan with the task of establishing an iron-works. That group was organized in two militia companies under the direction of Henry Lunt.

Small cottonwood log houses began to dot the area at the western base of the hill. Because of that, the area was first known as Fort Cedar, due to the abundance of cedar trees, though we now know they are in reality juniper trees.

The Cedar City Historic Preservation Commission is dedicated to being a resource to the community by providing ongoing education in cooperation with various community partners. This year, the commission will celebrate the founding of Cedar City with a fun-filled weekend highlighting our community's unique heritage.

The festivities will kickoff at 10AM on Thursday the 9^th when a scavenger hunt featuring local historic trivia. The scavenger hunt documentation will be available at Frontier Homestead State Park and the Cedar City offices. You can also get the forms online at cedarcity.org. Turn the completed forms in to win a commemorative prize and to be entered to win a grand prize.

On Friday, November 10^th head to the Frontier Homestead State Park for Iron Mission Days from 10AM to 4PM. You can continue working on your scavenger hunt through out the day there. At 7PM on the 10^th, local historian Ryan Paul will explore the history of Main Street in an address called, “Gone But Not Forgotten.” This event will take place in the Cedar City Council chamber.

On Saturday everyone is invited to the Veterans Memorial Park where the Iron County Veteran's Coalition will join with the Historic Preservation Commission for the presentation of the annual Veteran's Day Ceremony. Following that, Iron Mission Days will continue at the Frontier Homestead State Park, where there will also be cake.

Lastly on Sunday November 12^th, the entire community is invited ti join with the Master Singers singing Happy Birthday to Cedar City as part of the evening concert.

All events are free and open to the public and you can get more information about the schedule of events at cedarcity.org.