Orson Pratt's advance party of pioneers labored this July 21, 1847, to build a road down what has come to be known as Emigration Canyon.

Meantime, Pratt and Erastus Snow came down the canyon on horseback and climbed that hill. They got their first good look at the Salt Lake Valley.

Erastus Snow:

"ON ASCENDING THIS BUTTE, WE INVOLUNTARILY, BOTH AT THE SAME INSTANT, UTTERED A SHOUT OF JOY AT FINDING IT TO BE THE VERY PLACE OF OUR DESTINATION, AND THE BROAD BOSOM OF THE SALT LAKE SPREADING ITSELF BEFORE US."

Snow and Pratt proceeded to explore their new home, traveling a dozen miles before returning to camp with the pioneers in the canyon one more night.