Porter Rockwell Lookalike Contest Celebrates the “Destroying Angel’s” 200th Birthday
The event drew a crowd of spectators, enthusiasts, and contestants eager to honor the man known as a frontiersman, lawman, and devoted bodyguard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Participants donned period attire—complete with long hair, beards, boots, and even replica pistols—in hopes of capturing the look and spirit of the so-called “Destroying Angel of Mormondom.”
Image courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune
The contest was held outside Porter’s Place, a well-known Lehi restaurant themed after Rockwell himself. The restaurant, long decorated with vintage photos, memorabilia, and tributes to its namesake, made for a fitting venue to host the bicentennial birthday bash. That evening, Main Street took on the air of a frontier town, with spectators cheering on a parade of rugged lookalikes.
One participant quipped that he was “born to play Rockwell,” while others cited a love of Utah history and a fascination with Rockwell’s life as their reason for entering. The event was part celebration, part reenactment, and all in good fun—a reminder that Porter Rockwell’s legacy still sparks curiosity and admiration, even two centuries later.
Although the winner was selected based on costume and resemblance, it was the shared enthusiasm for keeping Porter Rockwell’s legend alive that made the night truly memorable. Rockwell, who was born on June 28, 1813, remains a towering figure in Mormon and Western folklore—a man who was never convicted of a crime, yet never far from trouble.
Image courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune – The winner of the contest – Scott Barker.
Today, even though Porter’s Place permanently closed in 2017, the memory of that birthday celebration lives on—a testament to the colorful life and lasting mystique of the man who was feared by outlaws and trusted by prophets.