On July, 24 1847, the first set of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley after a 1000 mile journey across the country. Their leader, President Brigham Young, declared, "This is the right place." It became the place they would settle and call home.
A few years later in 1849, the first parade was held in Salt Lake City. The Nauvoo Brass Band and cannon fire entertained people throughout the city.
Pioneer Day, as a territory wide celebration, took off in 1857 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of entering the Wasatch front. The celebration started on the 23rd and lasted until the 24th, according to a report by the Deseret News.
As the population grew, so did the celebrations. Speeches and parades commemorating the journey grew larger crowds each year.
In 1886, 39 years after the pioneers first entered the state, the tone of the celebration changed. Instead of colorful decorations adorning the tabernacle and streets of Salt Lake City, the city was decorated in black.
An article from the Deseret News recapped that year's tabernacle address, which was changed from previous celebrations to show protest. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints felt the federal government had wrongly imprisoned some members of the church.
"Those not here are in jeopardy, in prison and in foreign lands, because they prefer to obey God rather than man," said Elder B. H. Roberts during his address.
The protest only happened in 1886. Fanfare returned to Pioneer Day the following years, including the dedication of Pioneer Park in 1898.
To celebrate 100 years the "This Is the Place" monument was dedicated to a crowd of 50,000 people according to a report by the Deseret News.
"This monument is the culmination of a dream of many years on the part of a large group of people of all denominations across Utah and the West," said President George Albert Smith at the dedication. "Its completion marks a fitting climax to 100 years of western history."
At the 1997 parade, which celebrated 150 years since the pioneers trek, the crowd reached "once in a lifetime" proportions. The celebrations ended at then Cougar Stadium at Brigham Young University with a large pageant that included "thousands of cast members."
"It's been exciting. I can't believe the energy and time those in charge put into this." oldest performer Amy Hulls told the Deseret News.
The pageant mentioned modern day pioneers, echoing similar sentiments made by President J. Reuben Clark Jr. 50 years earlier at the dedication of "This is the Place" monument.
"What of us?" President Clark asked. "Can we keep and preserve what they wrought? Shall we pass on to our children the heritage they have left us, or shall we lightly fritter away?"