The future of The Mormon Battalion Trail and its possibility of obtaining historic trail status rests in the hands of the National Mormon Trails Association being able to push a new bill through congress.
Our next-door neighbors at RootsTech were The NATIONAL Mormon TrailS Association. I emphasize the words NATIONAL and plural “S” on Trails. Their proposed “Period of Significance Bill” will apply to ALL Mormon Trails – hence the plural Trails. The bill will impact The Mormon Battalion Trail, Handcart Trails, Wagon Companies, etc. all the way up to 1868 and the coming of the railroad.
One woman that came to the booth yesterday was shocked to hear that her ancestor who had come after 1847 was not considered part of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail period. “She walked the same trail and came all the way to Salt Lake City. Why isn’t she included?” she asked.
PLEASE ACT NOW: It is important for everyone to join the National Mormon Trails Association mormontrails.org (which at this time is at no cost) to show Congress that we have many people supporting this bill. Get on the membership rolls so you can be notified when the bill will be introduced and the time will be right to contact your legislators.
