Site commemorating the service of the Mormon Battalion
Explore an interactive exhibit and hands-on activities
Mission:
To preserve sacred sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and share them in a way that will enrich the lives of visitors.
Operating as usual
10/05/2022
As they neared the end of their journey, the Mormon Battalion traveled through 70 miles of barren desert with few rations for their large company. They shared strands of parched wheat and drops of liquid that they could extract from small mudholes in the ground. When the soldiers finally reached water, their commander, Colonel Cooke, noted with admiration that “any other company under like circumstances would have mutinized.” To help them endure, the Battalion held to their trust in God’s promises. One soldier expressed their collective faith and gratitude when he wrote, “God be praised for his protection over us according to the Word of his Servant the Prophet.”
Did you know that several members of the Mormon Battalion were present during the discovery of gold in California? Following their service, some members of the battalion chose to temporarily remain in the American West to find work. A group was employed by John Sutter and James Marshall to build a gristmill and a sawmill in Coloma, California. Henry Bigler and Azariah Smith were two of the Battalion members working there when, on January 24, 1848, flakes of gold were found in the river. Their written accounts of that day became critically important in understanding this monumental event that prompted the famous California Gold Rush.
On this day in 1846, the Mormon Battalion was assembled in Council Bluffs, Iowa, when about 500 members of the Church enlisted in the US Army. Within the next week, the Battalion, accompanied by more than 30 women and 40 children, began a 2,000-mile-long trek to the Pacific Coast. They acted with faith in the prophet Brigham Young’s promise that the “expedition result in great good, and [their] names be handed down in honorable remembrance to all generations.” Their long and difficult journey paved the way, both physically and financially, for other Church members to move west.
We are happy to announce that all of the Church’s historic sites have returned to normal operations. Thank you for your patience and cooperation to help everyone at these sacred places stay safe and healthy.
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego will be closed today, February 3. Thank you for your understanding.
01/29/2022
Today, January 29, marks the 175th anniversary of the Mormon Battalion arriving in San Diego.
Having left Council Bluffs, Iowa, in July 1846, the group traveled almost 2,000 miles during their difficult six-month expedition. One member of the Mormon Battalion, David Pettigrew, wrote in his journal when they arrived: “We shortly came in sight of the Pacific Ocean, which to us was a good sight as we had performed a long and tedious march and suffered many hardships and privations both with weariness, hunger, thirst and cold; most of us were barefoot and our clothes were very ragged.”
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego will have modified hours on Friday, January 28, and Saturday, January 29 (see below). Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you here this weekend to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Mormon Battalion arriving in San Diego!
Friday, January 28: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 29: 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
01/04/2022
Take a virtual tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego! Through vivid storytelling, learn about the Mormon Battalion, their journey to California, and their contributions to the establishment of the Church in the western United States.
Learn about the new leaders of these 5 Church historic sites
The following couples have been called by the First Presidency to lead the work in various Church history sites. They will begin their service early next year.
07/16/2021
July 16 is the 175th anniversary of the mustering, or assembling, of the Mormon Battalion in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Army Captain James Allen worked alongside Brigham Young to recruit volunteers for the U.S. Army. About 500 Saints enlisted, and at least 34 women and 44 children traveled with the battalion.
Historian Brandon J. Metcalf noted, “President Young knew that their service would provide funds to help the Saints reach the Salt Lake Valley, allowing them to gather as a covenant people. Each man in the battalion received 42 dollars as a clothing allowance, as well as wages for his service. Some of the women were paid for doing laundry for the group.”
We are happy to announce the opening of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego. The sites will be opening on a limited basis, each following local government guidelines for safety measures, group sizes, and reservation requirements.
For the protection of visitors and missionaries, operations at historic sites have been temporarily modified. Sites follow all requirements of local public health departments, including social distancing and the wearing of facemasks. Where face masks are optional, they may still be required for tour...
Mormon Battalion Virtual Tour - Mormon Battalion Historic Site
We are excited to give you a 30-40 minute virtual tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site!Here are some things you need to know: Check under the calendar to make sure you are signing up in your own time zone There will possibly be other people/groups on your tour The Zoom link for the tour will
03/14/2020
Due to an abundance of precaution surrounding COVID-19, all tours are cancelled and we are closed until further notice.
If you are interested in taking a virtual tour of the Mormon Battalion Center click here: https://calendly.com/mormonbattalionhs
Mormon Battalion Historic Site ¹Community Event and Parade on January 25th, 2020 from 10am-3pm, Old Town State Historic Park. Lots of pioneer activities, fiddlers and more. The parade starts at 10am. 😸🧶😸
Mark your calendars for our upcoming holiday hours!
Thanksgiving Day – CLOSED
Christmas Eve – Close early at 3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day – CLOSED
New Year’s Eve – Close early at 5:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day – Open from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Christmas lights will be taken down January 4, 2020.
Call us for any further questions!
09/18/2019
Heads up! We'll be closed on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 for some deep cleaning :)
01/17/2019
Historic sites leadership for the Mormon Battalion Historic Site practice giving history-based tours during their training in Salt Lake City!
These experiences will help them train missionaries to share the sacred events that took place at this site in a more compelling and meaningful way.
01/19/2018
Ever wondered what it was like to serve with the ? Join us on Saturday, January 27, for our annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration. With activities, reenactments, a parade, free tours at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site and more, you will feel like part of history! For details, check out our Events page.
11/17/2017
Visiting the area for Thanksgiving? Don't forget to add the Mormon Battalion Historic Site to your plans. We will be CLOSED on THANKSGIVING DAY, but will be open the rest of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
11/14/2017
"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love." —Thomas S Monson
How will you show thanks this holiday?
10/27/2017
"A trek back to our Heavenly Father is the most important trek of our lives, and it continues each day, each week, each month, and each year as we increase our faith in Him and in His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ." —M Russell Ballard
09/29/2017
Thousands of guests visit the every year, but many are surprised to discover us on their travels! People say it's the most "original tour" they've had, that it's a "great deal," or that their visit was an "unforgettable experience." What memorable experiences have YOU had here at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site?
09/15/2017
The Lane family stopped by the while in this summer. It's always a pleasure meeting families during their vacations. What has been your favorite experience at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site?
09/08/2017
Beat the heat and spend an afternoon at the . Here kids can explore, pretend, and learn a little bit about the lives of people of faith along the way.
08/31/2017
The Villeda family loves visiting the ! We love when children come by because we have so many activities to keep them busy, while also teaching them the history of the pioneers who served in the military. From dress up to historical videos to playing outside, everyone will have a great time. Make sure to stop by next time you are in .
08/25/2017
The Lehcar family came to the and enjoyed learning about the Latter-day Saint men and women who joined the U.S. Army. They saw many historical artifacts during their tour and finished by panning for gold outside. We are happy to be a part of happy family memories - thanks for spending time with us!
08/18/2017
Penny and Leo came to the and learned that 2 of the 83 members of the battalion were their relatives. Penny said, "They were one tough bunch!" The members of the battalion made many sacrifices during their service to the military. We agree, they definitely were one tough bunch!
08/09/2017
Chris and Britnee enjoyed their visit to what they said was the "coolest visitors' center in ." We're glad to know the is "cool" and hope that all who come enjoy learning about the history of the LDS Church here in Southern .
07/28/2017
While in Old Town San Diego, come learn about the and their nearly 2000-mile march from Iowa to California at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site. With missionaries wearing period costumes and through a series of presentations and videos, you will feel transported back in time! Stop by and see us next time you are in the area.
07/12/2017
Bring your children by the to learn about the history of San Diego and the Mormon pioneers and cool off while panning for gold. And don't forget to share your experience with us by sending a private message or using our hashtag. See you soon!
07/07/2017
The Anderson family spent a weekend touring La Jolla and San Diego, where they saw the and the . Here's what they said about their visit: "As we learned more about [the Battalion], I was so proud of these Mormon volunteers who left their wives & children for a year to stand up for their country." Thank you for sharing your weekend with us!
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
What to Expect When You Visit the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in San Diego
At the Mormon Battalion Historic Site, missionaries will guide you on an interactive video tour to help you understand the significance of the Mormon Battalion. You will learn about the faith, service, and sacrifice of the men who volunteered for that long march and the women and children who accompanied them
The tour lasts about 45 minutes. After the tour, you can look at historical artifacts and get a free photograph of yourself or your group. You can also enjoy demonstrations on gold panning and brickmaking. If you choose to experience all that the site offers, plan to spend between 1 and 1½ hours there.
Admission is free, and all areas of the building are accessible to visitors with disabilities. The site is located across the street from Old Town San Diego State Park, which includes other historical attractions and also features restaurants, stores, and entertainment. Because Old Town is a popular place to visit, you may not be able to park right next to the Mormon Battalion site.
Free parking is available on the streets and in some parking lots. Other parking lots charge a fee.
As they neared the end of their journey, the Mormon Battalion traveled through 70 miles of barren desert with few rations for their large company. They shared strands of parched wheat and drops of liquid that they could extract from small mudholes in the ground. When the soldiers finally reached water, their commander, Colonel Cooke, noted with admiration that “any other company under like circumstances would have mutinized.” To help them endure, the Battalion held to their trust in God’s promises. One soldier expressed their collective faith and gratitude when he wrote, “God be praised for his protection over us according to the Word of his Servant the Prophet.”
Did you know that several members of the Mormon Battalion were present during the discovery of gold in California? Following their service, some members of the battalion chose to temporarily remain in the American West to find work. A group was employed by John Sutter and James Marshall to build a gristmill and a sawmill in Coloma, California. Henry Bigler and Azariah Smith were two of the Battalion members working there when, on January 24, 1848, flakes of gold were found in the river. Their written accounts of that day became critically important in understanding this monumental event that prompted the famous California Gold Rush.
On this day in 1846, the Mormon Battalion was assembled in Council Bluffs, Iowa, when about 500 members of the Church enlisted in the US Army. Within the next week, the Battalion, accompanied by more than 30 women and 40 children, began a 2,000-mile-long trek to the Pacific Coast. They acted with faith in the prophet Brigham Young’s promise that the “expedition result in great good, and [their] names be handed down in honorable remembrance to all generations.” Their long and difficult journey paved the way, both physically and financially, for other Church members to move west.
We are happy to announce that all of the Church’s historic sites have returned to normal operations. Thank you for your patience and cooperation to help everyone at these sacred places stay safe and healthy.
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego will be closed today, February 3. Thank you for your understanding.
Today, January 29, marks the 175th anniversary of the Mormon Battalion arriving in San Diego.
Having left Council Bluffs, Iowa, in July 1846, the group traveled almost 2,000 miles during their difficult six-month expedition. One member of the Mormon Battalion, David Pettigrew, wrote in his journal when they arrived: “We shortly came in sight of the Pacific Ocean, which to us was a good sight as we had performed a long and tedious march and suffered many hardships and privations both with weariness, hunger, thirst and cold; most of us were barefoot and our clothes were very ragged.”
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego will have modified hours on Friday, January 28, and Saturday, January 29 (see below). Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you here this weekend to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Mormon Battalion arriving in San Diego!
Friday, January 28: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 29: 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Take a virtual tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego! Through vivid storytelling, learn about the Mormon Battalion, their journey to California, and their contributions to the establishment of the Church in the western United States.
July 16 is the 175th anniversary of the mustering, or assembling, of the Mormon Battalion in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Army Captain James Allen worked alongside Brigham Young to recruit volunteers for the U.S. Army. About 500 Saints enlisted, and at least 34 women and 44 children traveled with the battalion.
Historian Brandon J. Metcalf noted, “President Young knew that their service would provide funds to help the Saints reach the Salt Lake Valley, allowing them to gather as a covenant people. Each man in the battalion received 42 dollars as a clothing allowance, as well as wages for his service. Some of the women were paid for doing laundry for the group.”
We are happy to announce the opening of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego. The sites will be opening on a limited basis, each following local government guidelines for safety measures, group sizes, and reservation requirements.
