This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First encampment, July 21, 1847 » Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt's advance company reaches the valley floor late in the day, looks around a bit, and makes camp at what is now 1700 South and 500 East. Today, the boulder-strewn First Encampment Park marks the site.
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Second night's camp, July 22 » As Brigham Young's party makes a terribly difficult passage down Emigration Canyon, a band of pioneers goes on to make a 20-mile circuit of the valley, then camps at a cottonwood grove on the south branch of City Creek, in the block now bounded by Main and State streets, and 300 and 400 South.
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Plowing begins, July 23 » About a mile northeast of the second night's camp, the pioneers establish a more permanent site and scout likely places to plant crops. At noon, plowing begins at the northeast corner of State Street and 300 South.
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This is the place, July 24 » Young, suffering from "mountain fever," emerges from the mouth of Emigration Canyon and utters what has come to us as the words, ''This is the right place.''
IN THE LORE, Brigham Young's entry into the Salt Lake Valley, and the words he spoke, mark the origins of the Mormon empire that would arise from the valley floor. Well, there's more to it. The first pioneer to enter the valley was Orson Pratt and a band of front-runners who rode through tall grass on July 21 and set up camp at what is now 1700 South and 500 East. The next day, after coming down Emigration Canyon, another band made camp in a cottonwood grove in the heart of what would become Salt Lake City. On July 23, the pioneers started plowing. And finally, 161 years ago today, Young arose from his wagon and proclaimed - as the story goes - "This is the right place. Drive on."
Source: Ardis E. Parshall