Fremont Indian State Park
History and Significance
Fremont Culture
The Fremont culture is known for its unique art, pottery, and structures. The Fremont people lived in the central Utah area, and their culture is characterized by distinctive rock art, which includes petroglyphs (carvings on rock surfaces) and pictographs (paintings on rock).
Discovery
The artifacts and sites within the park were discovered during the construction of Interstate 70 in the 1980s. This led to the establishment of Fremont Indian State Park to protect and interpret these significant archaeological finds. The park was officially opened in 1987.
The park directly adjoins Interstate 70 as it travels up the Clear Creek Canyon, and thus is highly accessible by auto. The nearest town with full services (motels, etc.) is Richfield. There are campgrounds and RV parks in the area as well.
The site was discovered during the construction of Interstate 70, and thousands of artifacts have been excavated from the ancient village and put on permanent display at the museum there . The museum offers hiking trails and picnic areas.
The Fremont Indians were agriculturalists who lived from about 400 to 1300 in north and central Utah and adjacent parts of Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. The Fremont are thought to have come from hunter-gatherers who previously lived in this location and were influenced by the Ancestral Puebloans who introduced corn and pottery, making year-round settlements possible.
Attractions and Activities
Museum
The museum at Fremont Indian State Park displays a variety of artifacts, including tools, pottery, and other items used by the Fremont people. Exhibits provide detailed explanations of the Fremont culture and their way of life.
Archaeological Sites and Rock Art
Visitors can view numerous rock art panels created by the Fremont people. These panels include both petroglyphs and pictographs, showcasing their artistic expression and providing insight into their daily lives and beliefs. The park features several trails that lead to various archaeological sites and rock art panels. These trails vary in difficulty, offering options for both casual hikers and those seeking a more challenging experience. The park offers guided tours and educational programs that provide deeper insights into the Fremont culture and the archaeological significance of the area.
Climate
Fremont Indian State Park has a borderline semi-arid and humid continental climate (Köppen BSk/Dfb), characterized by cold winters, warm-to-hot summers, and high diurnal temperature variation throughout the year.
| Climate data for Fremont Indian State Park and Museum, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1988–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
80 (27) |
82 (28) |
89 (32) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
103 (39) |
99 (37) |
89 (32) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.2 (14.6) |
62.8 (17.1) |
71.5 (21.9) |
78.3 (25.7) |
86.8 (30.4) |
95.3 (35.2) |
99.1 (37.3) |
96.6 (35.9) |
91.4 (33.0) |
82.2 (27.9) |
70.2 (21.2) |
59.7 (15.4) |
99.6 (37.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.3 (5.7) |
46.3 (7.9) |
54.9 (12.7) |
61.0 (16.1) |
70.9 (21.6) |
82.7 (28.2) |
89.6 (32.0) |
87.5 (30.8) |
79.5 (26.4) |
66.3 (19.1) |
52.5 (11.4) |
41.8 (5.4) |
64.6 (18.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.3 (−2.6) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
38.6 (3.7) |
44.2 (6.8) |
53.1 (11.7) |
62.8 (17.1) |
70.3 (21.3) |
68.3 (20.2) |
59.6 (15.3) |
47.4 (8.6) |
35.9 (2.2) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.4 (−10.9) |
16.2 (−8.8) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
35.2 (1.8) |
43.0 (6.1) |
51.0 (10.6) |
49.0 (9.4) |
39.6 (4.2) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
11.7 (−11.3) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −5.3 (−20.7) |
−0.6 (−18.1) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
16.1 (−8.8) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
41.1 (5.1) |
40.7 (4.8) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
15.9 (−8.9) |
2.3 (−16.5) |
−6.2 (−21.2) |
−10.0 (−23.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−29 (−34) |
−6 (−21) |
6 (−14) |
15 (−9) |
20 (−7) |
34 (1) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
−1 (−18) |
−13 (−25) |
−32 (−36) |
−32 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.78 (20) |
0.97 (25) |
0.85 (22) |
1.14 (29) |
1.19 (30) |
0.63 (16) |
1.23 (31) |
1.30 (33) |
1.01 (26) |
1.21 (31) |
0.88 (22) |
0.89 (23) |
12.08 (307) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 11.5 (29) |
7.9 (20) |
5.2 (13) |
4.1 (10) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (2.5) |
5.4 (14) |
9.4 (24) |
44.8 (114) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.6 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 67.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 19.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ Utah.com. "Fremont Indian State Park Museum". Utah.com LC. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ "Park Visitation Data". Utah State Parks. July 6, 2023.
- ^ "Fremont Indians: Unique 2,500-Year-Old Forgotten Culture Of North America - Ancient Pages". www.ancientpages.com. January 26, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Art in Tuff: Petroglyphs at Utah's Fremont Indian State Park". EXPLORUMENTARY. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Weekly Science Quiz: The Fremonts". July 16, 2011.
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
External links
Media related to Fremont Indian State Park and Museum at Wikimedia Commons
