Migrations
Since the beginning of time, people have been on the move. These journeys are a core part of human history, and the migrations to and through Utah are particularly significant.
For many, the move to Utah presented opportunities for exploration, access to new resources, job prospects, and the chance to build community. From the Spanish and Basque shepherds in Bingham Canyon to the Greek miners in Carbon County, to the Latino sugar beet workers in Box Elder County, Utah has long attracted people seeking work. The mass immigration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the late 19th century, in particular, dramatically changed the landscape and social fabric of the region. While members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have profoundly influenced Utah's history, countless other groups have also arrived and made their mark.
However, not all journeys to Utah were a choice. Some groups, like enslaved people or incarcerated Japanese Americans during WWII, were forcibly moved here by others. In other cases, federal removal acts drove Indigenous peoples like the Utes from their ancestral lands, forcing them to relocate within or even away from the state. For some, like the Cambodian community in the state, Utah became a refuge as they fled their homes due to warfare or political and social unrest.
In this section, learn about the many different journeys people have made to Utah, exploring their lasting impact on the state's history and how they've built communities and made this place their home.
Crossing the Green | Digital Exhibit | For residents of Green River, resilience, adaptability, and perseverance underpin their identity. What is the future of Green River?
From Cambodia to Utah: Creating a New Home and Finding Community | Photo Gallery | Held in partnership with Wat Buddihkaram, the Cambodian Communuty Buddhist Temple, this scan and share collection features items digitized from multiple families and congegants of the temple.
Journey Stories | Research Article | Journey Stories explores how migration and transportation built Utah, how it has changed us, and how our mobile world looked to travelers along the way.
Journeying to Utah: Japanese Immigration and Culture in Morgan County | Research Article | This article spotlights the Japanese community in Morgan County from 1910-1942, focusing on important everyday neighborly connections and their experience making a home in Utah.
Migration Stories: Utah's Mexican and Mexican-American History | Photo Gallery | This scan and share collection features items representing the Mexican and Mexican American community in Utah, collected over several events including in partnership with the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America or GSHA.
Muslims in Utah | Storymap | This interactive timeline traces the history and migration of Muslims into Utah and the ways that they found community and built a home here.
Nation of Immigrants | Photo Gallery | Explore the catalog for a multi-media art exhibit that represents immigrant stories from the Mayflower to the present day.
People and Places in Utah's Asian American History | Storymap | Interactive data visualizations and maps help guide you through Utah's Asian American communities and their histories, focusing on important people and places.
A Timeline of Asian American History in Utah | Storymap | This interactive timeline details major events in Utah's Asian American history throughout the state from 1860 to 2001.
The Way Utah Worked | Research Article | Work is part of everyday life for all Utahns. How do you make a living?