Mormon Battalion Site Receives California Historian Award

The Mormon Battalion Site in San Diego, CA has been honored with the California Historian of the Year Commercial Award. It was presented with the award during the 2014 annual meeting of the Conference of California Historical Societies in San Pedro on Saturday, 21 June.

The Commercial Award is one of seven categories that were presented during this years conference. The Conference of California Historical Societies was founded in 1954 as a federation of historical societies, museums, libraries and other history-oriented groups and individuals. The CCHS allows people to connect and share information to help people who are interested in California history.

Ann Shea, president of the Conference of California Historical Societies, honored Elder David N. Barnes and his wife, Cherie, as the directors of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Conference of California Historical Societies,” said Elder Barnes to the attending delegates. “Just as the Mormon Battalion made significant contributions to Old Town San Diego over 150 years ago, it is our desire that the Mormon Battalion Historic Site be a valuable community partner and contributor to Old Town San Diego today.”

While the history of the site is quite old, the site is still quite young having opened in 2009. It tells the story of the group of Latter-day Saint men and women who joined the U.S. Army and what they accomplished during and after their 2,000-mile trek from Iowa to San Diego. It uses many modern interactive displays, hands on activities and entertaining presentations that are enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Patrons relive the trials and accomplishments of the Mormon Battalion through the journals of this often forgotten military unit that was a major contributor to California history and the expansion of the western United States.

The site was built in the hopes that the story of the Mormon Battalion will inspire all who visit, and serve as a reminder of all those who have sacrificed much in order that we may benefit.

Read more about the site and the award on mormonnewsroom.org.