Bicentennial
PAINTINGS
Prior to the United States Bicentennial, William J. Critchlow III, an Ogden attorney with an interest in northern Utah history, obtained funds from the local Bicentennial Commission to contract local artists to create 63 paintings for the 1976 celebration. Twenty-three artists from throughout Utah participated in the project and are represented in the Bicentennial Art Collection at Weber State University. Former members of the art faculty of Weber State, Utah State, University of Utah, and Brigham Young University, along with a number of local professional and freelance artists were commissioned.
In 2023, the Weber State University Storytelling Festival, Utah’s Division of Arts and Museums, and Kaysville – Fruit Heights Museum of History and Art, have collaborated to share reproductions of some of the paintings, the history represented and connections to Kaysville and Fruit Heights area past. Sixteen artists and twenty-eight paintings from the original exhibit have been initially selected for inclusion here and in the 2023 Bicentennial Art Exhibit Guide.
In 2023, the Weber State University Storytelling Festival, Utah’s Division of Arts and Museums, and Kaysville – Fruit Heights Museum of History and Art, have collaborated to share reproductions of some of the paintings, the history represented and connections to Kaysville and Fruit Heights area past. Sixteen artists and twenty-eight paintings from the original exhibit have been initially selected for inclusion here and in the 2023 Bicentennial Art Exhibit Guide.
Evacuation of Ogden
Dan Baxter, Artist
In 1857, President James Buchanan sent 2,500 soldiers, led by Albert Sidney Johnston, to Utah following reports of treasonous behavior from Mormon settlers. LDS Church leaders ordered the evacuation of…
Fort Buenaventura
Farrell R. Collett, Artist
This painting features Native Americans and settlers living in Fort Buenaventura, located in present-day Ogden. In the foreground is Pomona, a Ute woman, sitting on a horse led by a man assumed to be her husband, Miles Goodyear, responsible for building the Fort in 1845. Pomona was described as…
The Goodyear Horse Drive
Farrell R. Collett, Artist
Miles Goodyear is depicted in this painting leading a horse drive along the Overland Trail. Goodyear was a mountain man who turned from fur trapping to trade and built Fort Buenaventura in 1845 on the Weber River, in what is now Ogden. Goodyear traded some of the horses with emigrants on the Oregon Trail, and others were left in the care of…
Harlan-Young Party
Dale W. Bryner, Artist
In 1846, The Harlan-Young party bound for the west coast, was encouraged by Lansford W. Hastings to change course and cross an unknown passage through Weber River Canyon. After passing through Echo Canyon, they decided to follow the Weber River instead of the more popular Oregon Trail. They averaged less than…
Indian Stalking Elk
Dale W. Bryner, ArtistIn the early 1800s, Shoshone Indians and other tribal groups considered the Ogden Valley, or “Ogden’s Hole”, as it was called by trappers and mountain men, to be a location to hunt for food reserves. Before settlers arrived in the region and Pineview Reservoir was constructed, the mountain valley provided an abundance of wildlife including elk, beaver, wolverine, sheep, deer, and bear. While many of the animals are now mostly…
John M. Browning’s Gunsmith Shop
Fred Hunger, Artist
John M. Browning and his four brothers grew up helping in their father’s shop in Nauvoo, Illinois, learning the workings of guns. Eventually, Browning became an expert gun repairman before forming a professional partnership with his brothers and eventually opening his own shop: “J.M. Browning & Bro. Guns, Pistols, Ammunition & Fishing Tackle”. From this humble shop in the 1880s, located on present day…
Lagoon Ballroom
Mary R. Warnock, Artist
In July of 1896, Lagoon Resort opened in Farmington as an amusement park and gathering space. In addition to swimming, rides, food, and other diversions, the Lagoon Resort featured a popular dance pavilion.
During its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, local and national bands and musical groups ranging in genre attracted…
Lake Park Resort
LeConte Stewart, Artist
The Lake Park Resort was opened in the summer of 1886 on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, approximately halfway between Salt Lake City and Ogden. The resort included bath houses, a restaurant and bar, galleries, a pier, and other diversions. The central feature of the resort, depicted in Stewart’s painting, was the…
Malan’s Basin Inn
Richard Van Wagoner, Artist
After converting to Mormonism in 1851, Tim Malan traveled with his family to Utah from the Italian Piedmont Valley in 1855. Malan grew up on the Utah frontier and eventually married Louisa Mariah Hatch, raising 16 children. Just below Mount Ogden, in what is now known as Malan’s Basin, the family decided to build a…
Mormon Construction Crew
Dale W. Bryner, Artist
In 1868 and 1869, The Union Pacific Railway contracted with Utah Governor and LDS church leader Brigham Young to establish contractor companies and hire laborers from across the Utah Territory. The Mormons proposed their own workforce, and thousands left their farms, ranches, and shops to do the work.
The Mormon construction crew was contracted to grade and…
Evacuation of Ogden
Dan Baxter, Artist
In 1857, President James Buchanan sent 2,500 soldiers, led by Albert Sidney Johnston, to Utah following reports of treasonous behavior from Mormon settlers. LDS Church leaders ordered the evacuation of…
Fort Buenaventura
Farrell R. Collett, Artist
This painting features Native Americans and settlers living in Fort Buenaventura, located in present-day Ogden. In the foreground is Pomona, a Ute woman, sitting on a horse led by a man assumed to be her husband, Miles Goodyear, responsible for building the Fort in 1845. Pomona was described as…
The Goodyear Horse Drive
Farrell R. Collett, Artist
Miles Goodyear is depicted in this painting leading a horse drive along the Overland Trail. Goodyear was a mountain man who turned from fur trapping to trade and built Fort Buenaventura in 1845 on the Weber River, in what is now Ogden. Goodyear traded some of the horses with emigrants on the Oregon Trail, and others were left in the care of…
Harlan-Young Party
Dale W. Bryner, Artist
In 1846, The Harlan-Young party bound for the west coast, was encouraged by Lansford W. Hastings to change course and cross an unknown passage through Weber River Canyon. After passing through Echo Canyon, they decided to follow the Weber River instead of the more popular Oregon Trail. They averaged less than…
Indian Stalking Elk
Dale W. Bryner, ArtistIn the early 1800s, Shoshone Indians and other tribal groups considered the Ogden Valley, or “Ogden’s Hole”, as it was called by trappers and mountain men, to be a location to hunt for food reserves. Before settlers arrived in the region and Pineview Reservoir was constructed, the mountain valley provided an abundance of wildlife including elk, beaver, wolverine, sheep, deer, and bear. While many of the animals are now mostly…
John M. Browning’s Gunsmith Shop
Fred Hunger, Artist
John M. Browning and his four brothers grew up helping in their father’s shop in Nauvoo, Illinois, learning the workings of guns. Eventually, Browning became an expert gun repairman before forming a professional partnership with his brothers and eventually opening his own shop: “J.M. Browning & Bro. Guns, Pistols, Ammunition & Fishing Tackle”. From this humble shop in the 1880s, located on present day…
Lagoon Ballroom
Mary R. Warnock, Artist
In July of 1896, Lagoon Resort opened in Farmington as an amusement park and gathering space. In addition to swimming, rides, food, and other diversions, the Lagoon Resort featured a popular dance pavilion.
During its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, local and national bands and musical groups ranging in genre attracted…
Lake Park Resort
LeConte Stewart, Artist
The Lake Park Resort was opened in the summer of 1886 on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, approximately halfway between Salt Lake City and Ogden. The resort included bath houses, a restaurant and bar, galleries, a pier, and other diversions. The central feature of the resort, depicted in Stewart’s painting, was the…
Malan’s Basin Inn
Richard Van Wagoner, Artist
After converting to Mormonism in 1851, Tim Malan traveled with his family to Utah from the Italian Piedmont Valley in 1855. Malan grew up on the Utah frontier and eventually married Louisa Mariah Hatch, raising 16 children. Just below Mount Ogden, in what is now known as Malan’s Basin, the family decided to build a…
Mormon Construction Crew
Dale W. Bryner, Artist
In 1868 and 1869, The Union Pacific Railway contracted with Utah Governor and LDS church leader Brigham Young to establish contractor companies and hire laborers from across the Utah Territory. The Mormons proposed their own workforce, and thousands left their farms, ranches, and shops to do the work.
The Mormon construction crew was contracted to grade and…