The Sailing Adventures of "Little Lara": Martin's Cove Visitors' Center

Martin's Cove Visitors' Center

Bernard Sun approached representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in August 1994 and asked if the Church would be interested purchasing the Sun Ranch. The terms of the sale were finalized in April 1996 and the Purchase-Sell Agreement was signed on July 22, 1996. An important part of the negotiations was President Gordon B. Hinckley's promise that the ranch would forever be known as the "Sun Ranch", that it would remain a working cattle ranch, and the Sun name would forever be honored and remembered. The property's purchase comprised 12,500 deeded acres, plus 80,000 acres of grazing rights. The Sun Ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. It is one of several ranches in the United States to be given this recognition. At that time, it was regarded as one of the best preserved 19th century cattle ranches in America.

After purchasing the property, the Church renovated the ranch house and made it into a visitors' center. This building along with the barn, bunkhouse, washhouse and blacksmith shop date back to 1880's. Interestingly, the Mormon, Oregon, California and Pony Express Trails pass through the Sun Ranch property near the Visitors' Center. Visitors can see remnants of the trail as it passes through ranch property.

Express Rider searching for the Martin Handcart Company

The Martin's Cove Visitors' Center was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on May 3, 1997. In that Dedicatory Prayer he said:

Hungry and Cold and Dying from Sheer Exhaustion

"We are here at the Sun Ranch -- a place that speaks history. We are here to dedicate this Visitors' Center, which has been established to honor those who passed this way long ago and, particularly, the very many who gave their lives on that long journey, particularly during the fall of 1856. Some of them are buried in this area. Their memories are sacred to us. They gave their lives in the greatest of all sacrifices for a cause they counted more dear than life itself. We express appreciation to the Sun family who have owned this property through generations. They have preserved and protected it, and we are deeply grateful. It is now made available to Thy Church, and we pledge our very best effort in maintaining it, that it shall retain much of its pristine nature".

Crossing the Sweetwater River

We hope you enjoy seeing some of the many paintings and murals found in the Martin's Cove Visitors' Center, which was dedicated to those who sought "some protection from the heavy storms of a that early winter... Their people hungry and cold and dying from sheer exhaustion... We are so grateful for their faith, their faith in [God] and in [Jesus Christ]... "