Discover the miraculous story behind the Seagull Monument located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. This monument stands as a memorial to the flocks of seagulls that saved the crops of the early Saints in the Salt Lake Valley during the summer of 1848.
The settlers' first winter in the Salt Lake Valley had been a hard one. Food was scarce, and all hoped that the next year would bring a large harvest. Crop failure meant disaster for the present colony and no food for the more than 2,000 Saints planning to immigrate to the Salt Lake Valley that year.
When spring came, the hopeful pioneers planted grain and vegetables. Unfortunately, catastrophe after catastrophe hit. First, a late frost damaged much of the crops. Then, in May and June, a drought injured more of their potential harvest. Finally, hordes of crickets descended from the foothills and began devouring the remaining crops. For two weeks the pioneers battled the crickets and prayed for relief.
Seagulls from the Great Salt Lake flew to the fields and began devouring the crickets. For two weeks they continued their attacks and many of the crops were preserved.
The Seagull Monument was designed and created by Mahonri M. Young, a grandson of Brigham Young. The monument was dedicated on 1 October 1913 by President Joseph F. Smith.
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