- The Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum in Fillmore was Utah's territorial capital.
- Park manager Carl Aldrich uses social media to attract visitors off Interstate 15.
- The park offers picnic areas and hosts annual events like a Christmas lights display.
FILLMORE — Right in the middle of Utah, in Fillmore, is the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum, a place many drivers on Interstate 15 might have passed without realizing its importance.
The building once served as Utah's territorial capital before the capital moved to Salt Lake City in 1856.
Today, it is operated by Utah State Parks.
About 10,500 people visited the park during the last fiscal year, according to Utah State Parks visitation numbers, making it the third least-visited state park in Utah.
However, park manager Carl Aldrich believes the actual number of visitors is much higher because many people stop to use the park grounds to eat lunch at picnic tables or in the gazebo without paying admission to enter the museum.
"One of the biggest things, I think, is that people have this misconception that because of our name, Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum, that this is it. We're just a museum," he said. "They don't realize that we're an entire park."
The park includes large grassy areas, picnic tables, a gazebo and event space used throughout the year for community gatherings.
"All of the community events happen at this park," Aldrich said. "Our logo for the city is the state house. We are part of a community, and I love being part of the community as the park."
Aldrich feels that if people go inside the building, though, they'll understand why the place is so loved.
The museum itself is filled with Utah history.
"The Deseret News was actually printed here," Aldrich said while standing near an old printing press connected to the Utah War.
Inside are pioneer artifacts, original tools used to build the building, old photographs and even a jail cell with a chain still attached to the floor.
"I don't have any records of who was locked up here or when or for what," said Aldrich. "But we have the bolt built in the floor here with the chain on it."
The museum also contains photographs of many early Fillmore residents.
"There are lots of names you'll see here that you could also find here in Fillmore still," said Aldrich.
On the top level is the old hall where Utah leaders once met.
"This was the Legislative Hall," said Aldrich. "This is where the Legislature met. It's where Brigham Young gave his speeches."
For a brief period in Utah history, Fillmore was intended to become the center of the territory.
"These days, it's a lot quieter," Aldrich said with a laugh.
Part of Aldrich's effort to attract visitors includes making social media videos promoting the park.
"My goal is to get people off of I-15. It's only three minutes to get from I-15 to this park. Most people stop at one of the gas stations and say that they've been to Fillmore, and that's it. But we have a lot here," he said.
Some of those videos include Aldrich dancing or joking around online to attract attention to the park.
"One of my more popular Instagram videos is me saying that dancing isn't in my job description," he said. "The most embarrassing video is the one where I climb up on the ladder with the Queen song playing. I think 70,000 people have seen that video."
He believes the effort is working.
"I embarrass myself a little bit, but it's getting people in here," he said with a grin. "People stop in and say, 'We saw you on social media and thought we'd stop and check out the park.'"
The park hosts several events throughout the year, including an arts festival after Labor Day, 4th of July celebrations and a Christmas lights event in December.
Aldrich said even people who are not interested in museums can still enjoy stopping there.
"There's something for everyone," he said. "Even if you just need a break from driving for a while."
He hopes visitors see the park as a place to stop during road trips through Utah.
"For the most part, if you stop here, it's going to be a nice chill spot just to hang out for a while," he said. "I love providing a place for people to slow down and just enjoy life and not be in such a hurry to do anything or get anywhere."
