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The History of Porter’s Half Marathon: A Western-Themed Race in Draper, Utah
Between 2014 and 2021, a unique event took place each year in the southern reaches of the Salt Lake Valley: Porter’s Half Marathon. With race distances ranging from a half marathon to a 10K, 5K, and even a 1-mile run, the event appears to have blended scenic downhill running with historical flair, drawing its name…
Read MorePorter Rockwell Lookalike Contest Celebrates the “Destroying Angel’s” 200th Birthday
On June 28, 2013, history came roaring back to life in downtown Lehi, Utah, as Porter’s Place restaurant hosted a one-of-a-kind Porter Rockwell Lookalike Contest to mark the 200th birthday of one of Utah’s most legendary figures: Orrin Porter Rockwell. The event drew a crowd of spectators, enthusiasts, and contestants eager to honor the man…
Read MorePorter Rockwell: A Man for a Specific Season
Discover the remarkable life of Porter Rockwell as shared in a 2016 lecture by the Sons of Utah Pioneers. From loyal bodyguard to frontier legend, explore key stories, controversies, and enduring legacy.
Read MorePorter Rockwell: Guns, Legends, and Loyalty — A Presentation by Brent Ashworth
Historian Brent Ashworth shares rare artifacts and bold stories about Porter Rockwell—lawman, legend, and loyal friend to Joseph Smith—in this unforgettable presentation.
Read MoreThe Guns of Porter Rockwell: What History and Legend Tell Us
Porter Rockwell carried cut-down Colt revolvers gifted by Brigham Young—but which guns did he really use? We trace the history, rumors, and surviving relics.
Read MoreIronport: The Mysterious Western Soda with a Name That Sparks Legends
An overview of the history of Ironport and its questionable correlation with the legend Porter Rockwell. Plus instructions to make your own Ironport at home.
Read MorePorter Rockwell and the Danites: Faith, Fire, and the Missouri Conflict
Was Porter Rockwell a Danite enforcer? Discover the origins of the Danites, a secret Mormon militia, its ties to Joseph Smith, and Rockwell’s feared role during the turbulent Missouri conflicts of the 1830s.
Read MoreJoseph Smith’s Prophecy About Porter Rockwell’s Hair
On Christmas Day 1843 the prophet Joseph Smith prophesized about the life of Porter Rockwell and made him a promise based on his faithfulness and not cutting his hair.
Read MoreHot Springs Hotel and Brewery: Rockwell’s Station
Hot Springs Hotel and Brewery was a Utah Pony Express station, inn and brewery founded in 1856 by Porter Rockwell at Point of the Mountain, modern-day Bluffdale, Utah. In Harold Schindler’s biography, “Orrin Porter Rockwell”, it states: On July 29, 1858, Orrin Porter Rockwell counted out $500 and purchased from Evan M. Green sixteen acres of real estate at Hot Springs near…
Read MorePorter Rockwell’s Dog
There are a few historical accounts of Porter Rockwell’s dog. It was said to ride on his horse and to lick his face instead of bark as a sort of silent alarm. By all accounts he loved animals and his dogs as much as his horses.
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