15 min
Murray Park Memorials This is the Place
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- Education for Kids
This project we are mapping and understanding the memorials and monuments at the entrance to Murray Park 5130 South State Street. The items discussed are “Chief Wasatch” a 30’ carving at the entrance to the park, The “War Memorial Peace Garden”, the two drinking fountains that were part of the parks dedication, the “Vietnam Veterans Memorial”, and the 3”50 caliber anti-aircraft guns. I discuss the brief history in a guided walking tour that lasts 15 minutes. I discuss the reasons they were erected, and how they have changed over their history in the park. Murray Park was first dedicated in 1924, and the total acreage is now over 24 acres. The Rose garden began in 1950, and was reconstructed in 2005, and we talk about the history and meaning of why it is there. I discuss what it means, and why it needed to be redone. It began as 500 bushes and topped out at over 1000, but when redone was trimmed to 50 for aesthetic and practical reasons, with labeling and a pergola added.
The Vietnam War Fountain that is now a planter and has plaques with veterans names on it with the small amount of history that can be found is also discussed. No dedication marker or organization can be found on it, nor is there information in accessible records at this time. I also highlight the two anti-aircraft guns in the middle circle of the park entrance. They were a bit of a mystery to track and I found they were donated in part by efforts of the National Guard which was based next to the Park, and were surplus post WW2 from the Clearfield Naval Depot. In the sources I will include a link of similar weapons being tested on a museum ship to get a better understanding of them in action. The locations are all found on wayfinder, a GPS/mapping site that helps teach how to use maps and find interesting local artifacts.
Bibliography and Source Material
Snownomi. “Vietnam War Memorial”, “Garden of Freedom”, “Chief Wasatch”. Waymarking.com. (3/9/2009). https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6035_Vietnam_War_Memorial_Murray_City_Park_Murray_Ut_USA
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMC7WW_Murray_City_Park_Veterans_Memorial_Murray_UT
Strack, Don. “Naval Supply Depot (NSD) Clearfield, Utah.” Utah Rails.Net. (1/24/2015). https://utahrails.net/utahrails/nsd-clearfield.php
American Legion Laurel Post 60. http://laurelpost60.org/
Burton, Edward. “Rose Garden: Murray Park haven is born again.” Deseret News. (9/23/2005). https://www.deseret.com/2005/9/23/19912756/rose-garden-murray-park-haven-is-born-again
Militarywiki. “3”/50 Caliber Naval Guns.” https://military.wikia.org/wiki/3%22/50_caliber_gun
“Chief Wasatch.” Utah Historical Markers.org. https://utahhistoricalmarkers.org/c/slc/chief-wasatch/
Murray City official Website https://murray.utah.gov/315/Murray-Park
May,George and Evan Cray and Robert Corpus. “3”/50 Caliber Dual Purpose Gun.” Red Oak Victory. (10/24/2019). https://youtu.be/sciUyOYzpgU
“USS Salem Rapid Fire Guns Video.” USSSalemca139. (4/7/2011). https://youtu.be/ICifnf63lCs
This project we are mapping and understanding the memorials and monuments at the entrance to Murray Park 5130 South State Street. The items discussed are “Chief Wasatch” a 30’ carving at the entrance to the park, The “War Memorial Peace Garden”, the two drinking fountains that were part of the parks dedication, the “Vietnam Veterans Memorial”, and the 3”50 caliber anti-aircraft guns. I discuss the brief history in a guided walking tour that lasts 15 minutes. I discuss the reasons they were erected, and how they have changed over their history in the park. Murray Park was first dedicated in 1924, and the total acreage is now over 24 acres. The Rose garden began in 1950, and was reconstructed in 2005, and we talk about the history and meaning of why it is there. I discuss what it means, and why it needed to be redone. It began as 500 bushes and topped out at over 1000, but when redone was trimmed to 50 for aesthetic and practical reasons, with labeling and a pergola added.
The Vietnam War Fountain that is now a planter and has plaques with veterans names on it with the small amount of history that can be found is also discussed. No dedication marker or organization can be found on it, nor is there information in accessible records at this time. I also highlight the two anti-aircraft guns in the middle circle of the park entrance. They were a bit of a mystery to track and I found they were donated in part by efforts of the National Guard which was based next to the Park, and were surplus post WW2 from the Clearfield Naval Depot. In the sources I will include a link of similar weapons being tested on a museum ship to get a better understanding of them in action. The locations are all found on wayfinder, a GPS/mapping site that helps teach how to use maps and find interesting local artifacts.
Bibliography and Source Material
Snownomi. “Vietnam War Memorial”, “Garden of Freedom”, “Chief Wasatch”. Waymarking.com. (3/9/2009). https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6035_Vietnam_War_Memorial_Murray_City_Park_Murray_Ut_USA
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMC7WW_Murray_City_Park_Veterans_Memorial_Murray_UT
Strack, Don. “Naval Supply Depot (NSD) Clearfield, Utah.” Utah Rails.Net. (1/24/2015). https://utahrails.net/utahrails/nsd-clearfield.php
American Legion Laurel Post 60. http://laurelpost60.org/
Burton, Edward. “Rose Garden: Murray Park haven is born again.” Deseret News. (9/23/2005). https://www.deseret.com/2005/9/23/19912756/rose-garden-murray-park-haven-is-born-again
Militarywiki. “3”/50 Caliber Naval Guns.” https://military.wikia.org/wiki/3%22/50_caliber_gun
“Chief Wasatch.” Utah Historical Markers.org. https://utahhistoricalmarkers.org/c/slc/chief-wasatch/
Murray City official Website https://murray.utah.gov/315/Murray-Park
May,George and Evan Cray and Robert Corpus. “3”/50 Caliber Dual Purpose Gun.” Red Oak Victory. (10/24/2019). https://youtu.be/sciUyOYzpgU
“USS Salem Rapid Fire Guns Video.” USSSalemca139. (4/7/2011). https://youtu.be/ICifnf63lCs
15 min