Wuhan Journal of Cultic Studies
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Volume 2: Issue 2, 2024
ARTICLE The Mountain Meadows Massacre Site: A Tragic Heritage Site for All America Tilak Sinha-Gröger University of Sydney Abstract The Mountain Meadows Massacre (MMM) is “widely considered to be the most violent and controversial event in Utah’s history.” The intensity of its tragedy has created immense interest from within and without Utah and Mormonism that ranges from popular television to rigorous academic debate. Though discussed as a heritage site for Utah, this article will explore the massacre site as a heritage location in Utah for all of America, as it sits at the intersection of several primary issues and tensions that define modern American identity. Firstly, a general history of the MMM will be explored, discussing the context of its occurrence and a brief overview of its immediate events. Following that is a discussion of cultural engagement with the MMM, examining the ways in which the media has engaged with the massacre. Next is a brief overview of the history of the site itself: focusing not so much on the massacre that occurred there but on the history of remembrances and memorialisation at the MMM site. Finally, there is a note on the direct significance of this site to America as a whole, and suggestions as to how this significance can be utilised for the benefit of all included parties, as well as nationally. Keywords: Mountain Meadows Massacre, Mormonism, heritage, violence, landscape | ||