University of Iowa News Release

June 2, 2006

Mormon Handcart Trek Sesquicentennial Set For June 9-11

The Mormon Trek Heritage Society of Iowa City, a recognized student organization at the University of Iowa, will host the Iowa City Commemoration of the Mormon Handcart Trek Sesquicentennial June 9-11.

The community-wide celebration is scheduled to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Mormon Handcart Pioneer departure from Iowa City. Free activities will include: Sandy Boyd, UI emeritus president, introducing the full-day symposium; "Nauvoo On The Road" providing frontier-era crafts, demonstrations and entertainment at the outdoor festival; Loren Horton, senior historian emeritus, State Historical Society of Iowa, organizing an interfaith devotional; and Gordon B. Hinckley, president, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking at the closing ceremonies.

Activities, times and locations include:

--Friday, June 9, 7:30-8 a.m., Opening Ceremonies (Departure of youth handcart trek), Mormon Handcart Park.

--Friday, June 9, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Handcart Trek Symposium, Iowa Memorial Union, 2nd Floor Ballroom.

--Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Handcart Pioneer Festival, UI Cross Country Track and Field and Mormon Handcart Park.

--Saturday, June 10, 5-6:30 p.m., Handcart Pioneer Commemorative Program, Iowa City Stake Center, 570 Dublin Drive.

--Sunday, June 11, 9-10 a.m., Interfaith Devotional, Iowa Memorial Union, 2nd Floor Ballroom.

--Sunday, June 11, 7 p.m., Closing Ceremony Fireside, (ticket required), Hancher Auditorium.

For more information, please visit http://www.handcartpioneer.com or contact Kaye Wierda at k.wierda@mchsi.com or 319-354-9599.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gary Galluzzo, 319-384-0009, gary-galluzzo@uiowa.edu