Cedar City

My generous parents decided to invite Nate and me to the Shakespeare Festival again this year. So, last week on Thursday, we went down to Cedar City with them. We saw "The 39 Steps" that afternoon, and Friday night we got to see "Macbeth" in the "Globe Theater." Nate and I also visited Nate's grandpa in Enoch while we were down there, and we spent time hanging out with my family and enjoying the red rock canyons in the area.

Friday we drove down to Kolob Canyon to hike. We headed down the Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail, which leads to the well known Double Alcove Arch. I was particularly impressed with my mom, who managed to hike the whole thing. It took her six hours for the 5.4 mile (round trip) trail, but she made it! I don't know too many other people who go hiking like that a year and a half after having both knees replaced.

Allan and Nate under the arch

Double Alcove Arch

Lower Arch of the Double Alcove Arch

On our way home Saturday, we decided to stop by the old state capitol in Fillmore. We toured through the building learning a lot about Utah history including Indians in the area, early pioneer settlers, outlaws, and the original capitol there.

One room in the old building had a display for the early teachers and schools in Utah. That was especially interesting. The Presbyterian church set up mission schools to teach children, particularly girls, in order to combat the practice of polygamy. The schools were beneficial for teaching children, but didn't do much in the way of discouraging polygamy. The church ended up discontinuing polygamy several years after these schools were set up.

We particularly enjoyed reading the rules they had for teachers and students at the schools. The person at the capitol building gave us a copy of the rules:

It is no wonder kids didn't like school. I don't know that I would have liked it much if I were a teacher either! I am glad some things have changed a bit...

Outside of the capitol

Originally, there were to be four sections like the one that stands today, each spaced in an X or cross shape around a center dome. However, only one section was finished, and it was decided to move the capitol to Salt Lake City. When it was built, the staircase seen on the outside of the building was the only way to get between the three floors. To get from one floor to the other, you had to go outside. (Maybe the architects for this building were distant relatives to whoever designed the Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU.)

This room on the top (third) floor of the building where the legislature meet