FARMINGTON—Step back in time to pioneer days at the Farmington Historical Museum, located on the corner of 100 North and Main Street. During the late 1800s, the lot it sits on was used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for tithing. Hay, grain and other produce brought by church members was stored in a building there that served all of Davis County, which encompassed one stake. The building was constructed there because the stake president, Joseph Hyrum Grant, who lived in Woods Cross, was inaccessible to the majority of the stake. Farmington was the central location. The office was built on the southwest corner of the old tithing lot and became the stake president’s office in 1907.

In 1915, the church put the property up for sale. Farmington City bought it, put their city offices there and the building became the new Farmington City Hall in 1917. A library was put in part of the building, and the volunteer fire department stored firefighting equipment in the east bay.

The Lions Club leased the building in 1970 when Farmington moved its city offices to a new building. “The city reclaimed the building in 2001, did some remodeling and completed the Farmington Historical Museum, which opened July 9, 2004,” Executive Director Annette Tidwell said. “Visitors have been welcomed ever since.” 

Tidwell became involved with the museum when Farmington City announced the need for volunteers for a new Historic Preservation Commission. She expressed her interest in a letter to the mayor. He accepted her request and welcomed her to the commission. The first project for her was to establish a city museum. “I had never imagined such a project and had no experience in doing so,” said Tidwell. “However, some great people were also on the commission and worked well together in accomplishing the task.”

They spent about three and a half years visiting museums in Davis County. They asked a lot of questions, spread the word about the new museum and collected donations. The Farmington Historical Museum opened in July 2004 and Tidwell was appointed to be its executive director.

“We held workshops for owners of historic homes who were interested in preserving their homes,” she said. The commission taught people about their pioneer heritage and elementary school children participated in contests, drawing historic homes or landmarks.

A big part of the museum’s success, according to Tidwell is “the many people who have made donations to the museum in money, artifacts, books, and histories.”

Visitors from all around the country have visited the museum while visiting local residents, she said. “They have been very kind and appreciative of what we have on display.”

Farmington has also benefited by having a museum in the community that has such a rich collection of pioneer history. 

Tidwell has enjoyed her 21 years of service to the community on the Historic Preservation Commission. “I have been greatly blessed by the examples of many other Farmington residents I have served with on the Museum Board or the Preservation Commission.”

The museum is open Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with additional times available by appointment. For more information contact Tidwell at 801-529-2052.