A Visit To Historic Echo Church & It's Photography Exhibit “Scenes From Home On The Road”

Treat yourself to a Saturday outing only a short 30 minute drive from Park City but it will take you all the way back to pioneer days in Echo, Utah.

In 1854, James Bromley purchased quite a large parcel of Echo Canyon to establish what would become a significant stagecoach station and stopover along the Mormon Trail. Eventually, a bustling little town with mostly non-Mormon residents grew up around it.

The Transcontinental Railroad, constructed in 1868 passed through Echo, but most of the rail workers built their own temporary Hell-on-wheels style town further to the northwest. Some residents were employed by the railroad and mining industries in the area. 

A few years later, in 1876 the Echo Church was erected using local materials; bricks, shaped and fired right on the property and red pine logs made into planks for the floor. It first served as a place of worship for Presbyterian and Congregational services and in later years for Latter Day Saints. It housed the town school during the weekdays. The structure measures only 25 feet wide by 50 feet long and at one point as many as 50 children. 

Kim Bloss, is a 3rd year docent and she will cheerfully tell you all about the history of the area. “So many people come by with Echo history in their family and want to hear everything about this place,” said Kim. “On Memorial Day, I was only supposed to be here on Saturday but we had so many visitors coming from everywhere, I opened up all three days.”

Many vintage photographs of town buildings and citizens line the walls. When the rope dangling from the belfry is tugged, the original bell sends echos through the canyon. Tour the church, chat with Kim and stroll through the adjacent historic cemetery. 

The church also has a new exhibit, “Scenes From Home On The Road” by Peter C. Marsted. Peter is honored to exhibit his photography at Echo Church. Over the years,  taking photographs, especially in nature, has always brought peace and inspiration to him when there are so many unknowns during life’s trials and tribulations and during our current world pandemic.

Peter is a graduate of Harvard University with a combined BA and MA in physics. He is currently pursuing PhD opportunities in animal bioacoustics with an emphasis on whales, dolphins, otters, and pikas.

Head to the Echo Church to photos from “Scenes From Home On The Road.” The large photographs are available for purchase at $125 each and the smaller ones are $95 each. Twenty percent of all sales will benefit Echo Church and Park City Summit County Arts. For inquiries on these photographs, please email pcmarsted@gmail.com

One of the oldest remaining buildings in Summit County, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It is often leased out for weddings and social events. It's open for visitation every Saturday through Labor Day weekend (June 5) from 11 am to 4 pm. Entrance is free. (There is also a lower level which houses a small museum which may be closed depending on status of Health Department Covid-19 mandates.)

Take I-80 East to exit 169. Follow signs to Echo. Church is located at 60 Temple Lane.