Picto Diary - 29, 30 September 2022 - Salina Arch

Above: Freddie. Ivins, UT. 29 September 2022

"I don't have to walk if I don't want to."

Above: Wooden Arch. Salina, UT. 30 September 2022.

The pictured wooden arch is a relic of an effort by Snow College's Traditional Building Skills Inc. (TBSI) circa 2005 to memorialize stops, populated by Mormon pioneers in the 1860's, along Utah's US 89 corridor. A dozen or so of the arches were constructed to be placed in prominent park locations in towns along the US 89 corridor.

Before I-15 was constructed, there were two principal north south routes bisecting the state of Utah: US 89 and US 91. US 91 was replaced with I-15. I-15 has become the principal route for north/south trans Utah traffic. US 89 today is rarely used for north/south trans Utah traffic, notwithstanding the presence of some rare mountain beauty and arcane tourist features, like Butch Cassidy's restored boyhood home in Circleville. Further south from Circleville, you'll get easier access to Bryce Canyon National Park by taking the US 89 route.

To be sure, US 89 also is not a freeway. If you are headed from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, going via US 89 as opposed to I-15, will add an hour and a half to your trip. Today, US 89 serves as a link to small towns along the economically beleaguered, rural corridor in Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Grand, and Kane counties.

I was on the board of TBSI when the ill-fated, in hindsight, arch project was conceived. The weather torn arch in the above image is symbolic of a beautiful, bucolic, but growth stunted section of Utah seemingly lost in time.

Addendum:

So... does your derogatory comment about President Biden and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex make you feel more Christlike this morning, Steve? The Queen wanted them there.

Academy Theater,
Salt Lake City, Utah

Channeling the Queen's inner, but unspoken, thoughts.

Steve, you omitted the Taylor kitchen under the supervision and creativity of TIMDT.

Tom,
Aspen, CO