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Gardner Village Blog Celebrate Utah History and Experience It
Wednesday Jul 20 2022

At Gardner Village, we have serious Pioneer Day pride. After all, we’re home to one of the earliest flour mills in Utah, built by Archibald Gardner, a Scottish immigrant and early Utah pioneer. Gardner Village owners, Angie Gerdes and Joe Long, consider it a tremendous honor to now be the keepers of this and other significant pieces of history. In fact, the mill is on the Utah Historic Site AND the National Register of Historic Places!

Gardner Village

Utah history

 historic sites in the salt lake area

DON'T JUST CELEBRATE HISTORY ... EXPERIENCE IT!

Any day is a great day to experience some of our state history, but we always encourage day a visit in celebration of Utah's Pioneer Day.

where to take kids in utah 

YOUR PIONEER DAY PLAN

Whether you have an entire day or just an hour or two, you can immerse yourself in Utah's past at Gardner Village. Here are three fun ways to experience the past today:  

1. Visit CF Home Furniture and Design

This, one of The Village flagship stores, is actually located inside the historic Gardner Mill, making it a very unique and memorable shopping experience. As you browse, remember to look high AND low for glimpses into the past.

cool utah shops

Utah mormon pioneer history

 

The hardwood flooring is beautiful and definitely worth hanging onto, but we’re also well aware of its age. It’s why we take great care to keep it safe AND why you’ll see spots where patches have been put into place.

look at the past 

Hydro powered mills rely on water for energy and require numerous gears and wheels to turn grain into flour. Honoring the original reason for this impressive structure, many of those mechanisms can be found incorporated into the store’s design.

CF Home Furniture and Design 

In fact, as you walk up the ramp to enter CF Home and Archibald’s Restaurant, you’ll see an old water wheel. This iconic Village item serves to remind us of the resourceful ways of yesteryear. (Hey! If you have a few extra minutes, watch an old hydro powered flour mill in action here!

water wheel 

While you’re at CF Home Furniture & Design, don’t miss out on a chance to shop for everything from home décor, rugs, bedding, etc. to home furnishings. With two floors, there’s much to see, and inventory is changing all the time!

best boutique shopping in Utah

2022 summer furniture trends

Have you heard the buzz? One of the many trends you'll find in store right now certainly supports our great Beehive State! 

 bee trend

2. MEAL TIME

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, continue your history lesson at Archibald’s Restaurant. Also located inside the mill, this is another memorable way to see Utah’s history from an unusual vantage point. In fact, you can even eat in the silo of the mill!

 Archibald's Restaurant

corporate event space in Salt Lake area

The hearty Mill Burger or a lighter summer salad are two excellent Pioneer Day choices!

Mill Burger

fresh summer salad 

Want to make even more mill memories? It's one of Utah’s best event venues. With five unique venues in this impressive building alone, you’re sure to find a spot to celebrate that's going to stand out and get noticed, whether you’re hosting a wedding, a baby shower, a corporate event, a school celebration, or any other reason to gather.

event space

 where to get married in Utah

In true mill fashion, you'll find historic elements woven into the surroundings in a way that perfectly complements the overall modern feel you'll find here.

Utah state history

Mill Plaza

historic flour mill in salt lake

Contact our talented Events Team to start planning your celebration.

3. LET’S TAKE THIS OUTSIDE

Beyond the mill, the Gardner Village grounds are dressed in pieces from the past. Why not make a game of it and see how many you can spot as you wander the brick-lined paths?

fun ways to celebrate Pioneer Day 

Speaking of games, it’s always a good idea to print our Gardner Village Historic Scavenger Hunt (or use your phone) and come with this challenge in hand. After all, your “hard work” (aka FUN) is rewarded with Utah’s famous salt water taffy from Chocolate Covered Wagon if you can find everything on the list!

 chocolate covered wagon

Make this year’s Pioneer Day celebration one to remember. Tell the fam your vehicle is a time machine and travel back to see how things were back decades ago. It’s a great excuse to sneak a little summer learning in and a fun way to celebrate this July or any other time you choose to visit.

CF Home Furniture and Design 

Thanks for taking this trek back in time with us. Click here for even more on our roots. Happy Pioneer Day, friends!

Utah state history 




Labels: best utah event venues, chocolate covered wagon, salt water taffy, utah historic scavenger hunt, national historic register, archibald gardner, old flour mill, pioneer day, unique ways to celebrate state history in utah, summer fun with kids, cf home furn