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Silver Reef Museum

Silver Reef Museum and Ghost Town

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If you are looking for a fun stop near Zion National Park you definitely want to check out Silver Reef Museum in Leeds, Utah. You can read about visiting Zion National Park here. Located a short way off the Leeds exit from Highway I-15, the museum is housed in the original 19th century Wells Fargo & Company Express Building, one of a few that are not only still standing but also remain in use. Opened in 1877, the Wells Fargo building is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

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A unique museum in an historic building

We enjoyed learning how the rarest and richest silver was discovered and mined. Our guide was an older gentleman, a local who wore western clothing (I think he was supposed to look like Sherrif Sam Elliot) and told a lot of interesting stories. Since he was from the area he spoke of his personal experiences. You can see him in the video below. He was very knowledgeable and quite passionate about the history of the area. He showed us examples of tools and machinery that was used and explained some of the challenges the people had to overcome back when the town was thriving.

This ghost town of Silver Reef was once called Bonanza Town.

The quality of life in what used to be called Bonanza Town was once thriving. The land value there was the highest in the country, and they had the richest silver producing mines to date in all of America. The silver was extracted from rare, unbelievable ore. The guide takes you through the mine and explains how the silver was extracted. This is the only place where silver was discovered in sandstone.

The Silver Reef Museum also gives tours to school groups.

Inside the museum you feel like you are stepping into the past. There is an original safe from the 1800’s. There are artifacts and antiques from the true Wild West, showing all aspects of pioneer life in southern Utah. The museum is well-maintained and clean. There is also a great gift shop with cool things like jewelry and artwork – not cheesy tourist junk.

Stagecoach etiquette from the days of the Wild West

There used to be a real live (staged) shootout on the fourth Friday of the month, but this has been put on hold. There are walking trails outside. You can pick up a pamphlet in the museum and read about the numbered sites along the way. There is a mining machine yard right outside of the museum, and I could just imagine the place when it was full of life back in the day. There is no shade though, so if you plan to walk around a long time you will want to bring sunscreen and some water.

Mining machine yard outside of the Silver Reef Museum
This building next to the Silver Reef Museum is a replica of the original restaurant.
A genuine snake oil advertisement from Silver Reef in Utah.

Admission was only $3, and you can easily spend two hours there. It is worth the stop when you are in the area. We enjoyed it!

Here are some resources that will help you plan your trip to Utah or anywhere else. If you click through my links you will be able to access the best and most current prices and deals. These are companies that I trust and I think will be the most helpful to you as you plan.

Book a Flight

If you are not within close driving distance to your destination you will need to book a flight. I don’t know if you have heard of this company yet, but with Skyscanner you can find cheap flights anywhere in the world. The website is super easy to use, and if you use my link above you will be able to compare flights and prices and have a seat booked without all the hassle of multiple website searches. Skyscanner is awesome!

Book a Room

Hotels.com has great deals on National Park lodging. They are very reliable. If you want to see tons of reviews on places to stay, TripAdvisor has over 150 million reviews and opinions of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more by travelers like you and me.

Book a Car

You could go through individual rental car companies if you want, but if you check out TripAdvisor they have great comparisons. Also, if you book hotel and rental car together it is oftentimes cheaper.

Luggage

If you are needing new luggage for your trip check out some really awesome deals on good quality luggage at Chester Travels.

Travel Insurance

One of the worst things is to be out of town and have something bad happen. Accidents, unexpected mishaps, and other troubles can and do happen. But if you are prepared you can have peace of mind. That’s why getting travel insurance is a great idea. And it does not cost that much. Travel insurance can help you deal with theft, health issues, and other troubles. I recommend World Nomads. The people at World Nomads are passionate travelers themselves, so they know what can happen. The link above will take you to their very best deals.

Most of all, have fun!

Please leave a comment below. Have you been to Utah?

Moqui Cave in Utah

Moqui Cave in Utah

Posted on Categories Travel & Adventure2 Comments on Moqui Cave in Utah
Moqui Cave in Utah
Moqui Cave in Utah

During our trip to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park this summer we decided to make a quick stop at a quirky little tourist spot called Moqui Cave. Moqui Cave is actually three small rooms made into a natural history museum about life in southern Utah and houses all sorts of interesting things such as Native American artifacts, rocks and fossils, fluorescent minerals and rocks from around the world, and even a large display of dinosaur tracks! Thinking that it might be a cheesy tourist trap, we were surprised to find it quite fascinating.

Moqui Cave in Utah
We were glad we made the stop to Moqui Cave in Utahi Cave in Utah
Quirky little place called Moqui Cave in Utah
We loved this quirky little place called Moqui Cave in Utah.

Ancient Native American Artifacts

Also on display is a surprisingly large collection of pre-Columbian artifacts from Mexico and more than 1,000 arrowheads. The museum houses a collection of Native American artifacts found in Southern Utah and the surrounding areas. These remnants are from the ancient civilizations that inhabited the southwest around 1,200 years ago. There are centuries-old ceremonial pots, jugs, bowls, and working tools that provide some anthropological clues into the early lives of the Anasazi and Navajo Indians. There are Moqui artifacts, wood carvings, neon paintings, and even Steelers memorabilia. Not sure what the Steelers have to do with Indians though.

Over 1,000 arrowheads are on display in Moqui Cave.
Over 1,000 arrowheads are on display in Moqui Cave.

Dinosaur Tracks

Inside there are over 180 dinosaur tracks, most of which were found within a 10-15 mile radius of Moqui Cave. All have been classified by world-renowned Paleontologist, Jim Jenson.

Dinosaur tracks in Moqui Cave
Dinosaur Tracks in Moqui Cave

Flourescent Minerals

200 feet inside the cave there is one of the largest fluorescent mineral displays in the United States. They have the display under an ultraviolet light, which makes the minerals glow in astonishingly bright colors.

History of Moqui Cave

We also learned of more recent history from the collection of records relating to the original United Order and the early day communal system proposed by the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The word Moqui is an ancient term, and is now commonly used to refer to the Hopi tribe of Native Americans that inhabited the region which now includes parts of Arizona and Utah.

Thomas Chamberlain and his daughters in Moqui Cave
Thomas Chamberlain and his daughters in Moqui Cave

Originally a Saloon

The late Garth and Laura Chamberlain purchased the cave in 1951 and turned it into Southern Utah’s first dance hall and bar. During the week, patrons could grab a bite to eat and something cool to drink at their fully functional bar, and people enjoyed a live band on Friday and Saturday nights. Evidently, many early western movie stars frequented the establishment, and lots of movies were filmed in and around the place.

Moqui Cave was originally a bar and dance hall.
Moqui Cave was originally a bar and dance hall.

A museum was always in the back of their minds, as Garth studied Geology, Archaeology, and Paleontology. The exhibits on display are his personal findings after years of his studies and collecting. Most of the dinosaur tracks and fossils were found in the surrounding area, and their fluorescent mineral displays is one of the largest in the U.S. 

Gift Shop

Moqui Cave also has a gift/rock shop where visitors can purchase items such as Native American arts and crafts, rugs, pottery, and turquoise. The rock shop has a wide variety of fossils, rocks, and minerals found locally and throughout the world.  Both the museum and the gift shop are open during the summer season from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday.

Gems on display in Moqui Cave
Gems on display in Moqui Cave

Snack Shop

There was also a cool little eatery at the entrance with good looking food (we didn’t try any of the food, so I can’t tell you what it tasted like). You can sit outside at picnic tables in the shade and enjoy the weather.

Guided Tours

Owned and operated by the Chamberlain family for over 50 years, the late Lex Chamberlain currently served as a tour guide for the cave. He told stories and shared historical accounts designed to familiarize visitors with the experience of the inhabitants of southern Utah. His granddaughter runs it now, and as you can see from my video of her giving the tour she is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Location & Admission Fee

Moqui Cave is located on scenic Highway 89, just 5.5 miles north of Kanab, and less than one mile from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. There is a large parking area that can easily accommodate RVs or buses. At the time we went (July 2020) the admission fee was $7 per adult.