This Statue of a Controversial Utah Pioneer Was Made But Never Placed in the Memorial

The pioneers who settled in Utah are celebrated throughout the state and even have their own state holiday to remember. Washington City in Southern Utah celebrates Pioneer Day with a parade, fun at the park, followed by fireworks. 

Ironically, this same city created a tribute to the town founders in the city center featuring statues with their likeness. However, one founder is missing. The statue was made but never placed. 

Controversial Town Founder Left Out of Memorial Plaza 

In 2003 the city decided to create a memorial to these early settlers and commissioned statues to be made by a talented sculptor that would stand in a circle at the city center. One of these statues was of John D. Lee. 

When wind got out about the project and the statue of Lee, controversy began to brew. Lee was implicated in the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre that happened in 1857 where 120 people were killed from a wagon train traveling through the area. 

The massacre is still controversial today, and that boiled over to this tribute to town founders in 2003. Even though the city bought the statue of Lee for $35,000, they decided it wouldn’t be placed in the memorial. 

The Statue That Was Never Removed Because It Never Got Placed 

Eventually the artist bought the statue back from the city and placed it at his gallery in Silver Reef. The city considered putting it in the memorial again in 2014 but once again decided against it. 

After the studio closed it was moved again. The statue spent some time at the New Harmony Library and later at a historical site there until the Lee family purchased it, and it remains with them today.

Read More: Brigham’s Plan To Bring Pioneers By Boat Up The Colorado

In a city and state that reveres their pioneer heritage, some stories are still too fresh and painful even over 160 years later. The memorial in Washington City with the missing statue says it all.