The Museum of The San Rafael in Castle Dale has a new exhibit of a large mural depicting the Old Spanish Trail and some of its history. A key gun hangs in the middle of the mural. That history includes the trading of horses, mules, woolen blankets and Indian slaves by the Spanish Traders and tribal Chief Walker from Sante Fe New Mexico through Utah to Los Angeles, Calif.
Museum Director Maegan Wilberg and the museum staff Nov. 7, 2014 hosted an innovative evening program that invited the public to come to the museum and explore the exhibits. The museum for several years has been the meeting place for many organizations and those members had expressed a desire to have more time to peruse the museum exhibits.
This museum program started in the center of the large empty meeting room with a lone chair and table beside a podium with a paper on the podium detailing some of the Old Spanish Trail history. On the table were chocolate filled golden coins and a basket filled with small sea shells. A museum staff member instructed the guests to follow the footsteps on the floor to the exhibits. As the guests followed the footstep trail through the exhibits and from staff station to staff station in the museum they were given small treasures and learned more about the museum exhibits. Along the way the guests were given such things as sea shells, golden covered chocolate coins, a photo of an arrowhead, wool, a photo of slave shackles and a map of the Old Spanish Trail with an Old Spanish Trail medallion. The challenge was to find the other papers in the museum detailing more Old Spanish Trail history. This was truly a treasure hunt.
Following the footsteps one was led first to the dinosaur exhibits. From there the staff instructed everyone to follow the horse tracks. The horse tracks led deeper into the museum to see the Indian artifacts the stuffed wild animals such as black bears, elk, coyotes, deer, cougars, mountain lions and many other animals. Many of those stuffed animals and other artifacts in the museum were donated by local residents. There are displays of Indian pottery, Indian tools, arrow heads and various mineral bearing rocks. Some of those mineral bearing rocks will glow in the dark under what is known as a black light.
The display of the Mickelsen Indian pot that was discovered January of 2010 by Casey Mickelson in Ferron Canyon is a center piece of the museum. The Old Spanish Trail is one of the longest, most arduous pack mule routes in the history of America. Mexican trader Antonio Armijo led the first successful commercial caravan in 1829 from Sante Fe New Mexico to Los Angeles Calif. He followed Indian footpaths and early trade and exploration routes. Antonio forged a trail network that became know as the Old Spanish Trail.
Antonio Armijo discovered profit could be made transporting New Mexico serapes and other woolen goods to Los Angeles and driving back California-bred horses and mules to Santa Fe. The last station of the trail through the museum led to the Old Spanish Trail Mural. That evening when the museum tour was over refreshments were served. The San Rafael Museum is one of the finest museums to be found anywhere and is definitely an Emery County treasure.
Museum event follows the Old Spanish Trail
"Some of the exhibits on display at the museum."