When my family visited San Diego in February we stayed at a hotel in Old Town, “the birthplace of California.” One of the nearby attractions I was eager to visit was the Mormon Battalion Historic Site, which commemorates the march of the Mormon Battalion from Iowa to California during the Mexican-American War (1846-48).

Due to our flight from Calgary being delayed we didn’t have time for sightseeing on our first day of vacation, but thankfully the Mormon Battalion site is open till 9 pm daily, so we squeezed in a tour the night before we flew home.

The tours offered at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site are family-friendly and interactive. You move from room to room hearing the story of the Mormon Battalion from an interpreter in costume and period characters who appear on screens. I was surprised by how high-tech and detailed the tour was. It even ended with an outdoor activity: panning for gold.

Before visiting San Diego I had never heard of the Mormon Battalion and I’m guessing many of you haven’t either, so I want to share a brief description. Maybe you’ll be inspired to learn more.

In February 1846 the Mormons fled Nauvoo, Illinois and camped near Council Bluffs, Iowa. They requested federal aid to migrate further west. Since war had just been declared with Mexico, the American government agreed to help the Mormons if a few hundred of their men enlisted in the army.

Brigham Young supported this plan for at least two reasons. It would prove the Mormons’ loyalty to the United States and, since a uniform was not mandatory, the clothing allowance could be used to purchase supplies to help their families move west.

The Mormon Battalion of five companies of men was mustered on July 16, 1846. A few dozen women and children accompanied the 543 men. They marched to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were outfitted for the long trek.

After marching nearly 2,000 miles the battalion reached San Diego in January. The only “battle” they fought was against a herd of wild bulls! Two men were wounded, while 10 to 15 wild cattle were killed.

For the remaining five months of their term of service the men trained and performed garrison duty in California. Afterwards most of the soldiers joined their families in Salt Lake Valley.

The legacy of the Mormon Battalion includes:

• building Fort Moore in Los Angeles
• building a courthouse in San Diego
• building flour mills and saw mills in northern California
• discovering gold at Sutter’s Mill, which set off the California Gold Rush
• opening the first wagon road from California to Utah

You can learn more about the Mormon Battalion, including specifics about the officers, equipment, and route, from the sources listed below. If you visit San Diego I recommend the Mormon Battalion Historic Site as a fun, informative, and free family activity.

Sources

• “Mormon Battalion” on Wikipedia
• “Mormon Battalion Historic Site located in Old Town San Diego” in Old Town San Diego Guide
• “San Diego Mormon Battalion Historic Site” on the LDS website (featured image)