We stopped by here for lunch last week on our way back from Colorado. It's an historic LDS site at the intersection of I-70 and I-15 in central Utah. There's a beautiful picnic grove and guided tours of the fort.
Cove Fort was built in 1867 to protect the telegraph lines between Logan and St. George from Indian attacks. The attacks never came. Nevertheless, the fort served as an important outpost for local Mormon settlers as well as a way station for travelers through the territory. Its telegraph and mail services were important communications links until the early 20th century when the fort was no longer needed. It fell into disrepair but beginning in 1988 was restored to its original appearance and furnished with original artifacts as well as historic items from the period.
Cove Fort east entrance
Late 19th century drill press at the fort's blacksmith shop.
From Goggle Maps
The blacksmith shop
The barn is not original but is a replica of the building that was part of the original fort grounds. It was reconstructed using peg, mortise and tenon joining and conforms in all design and construction details to the original.
South wall inside the courtyard.
Given the remote Utah location and severe climate, the fort provided surprisingly nice accommodations for the Hinckley family who built it and lived there, and for the travelers passing through.
The kitchen and dining room
The telegraph office. It also served as the stage station and mail stop.
Scarecrow guarding the fort gardens.
Photo by Elder Larsen. Thanks!
Original doors on the east gate - in 1867 they were filled with sand to extinguish flaming arrows - not too sure if this would have been an effective strategy. But mercifully, the arrows never came and the residents of the fort had uneasy but relatively peaceful relations with the local tribes, principally the Utes.