005 (Grade 5) Slanted Wayside Panel: Spirit Renewed 555 words / Panel Description: 4 minutes
In front of you, is a slanted panel 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground. You are on a paved sidewalk, with grass in front of and behind you. Behind you, is a brick, 1-story-tall building. This is the Prairie Trail Museum. Take the sidewalk to the left to get to the museum entrance. Take the sidewalk to the right to get to the parking lot. About 50 feet, or 15 meters, ahead of you, is a 4-lane road.
There is a black banner across the top on the panel. Left side text reads Prairie Trail Museum. Right side of the panel has the white, orange, and black triangular logo for the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail.
Title: Spirit Renewed. Main Text: As the Mormon pioneers headed west, the route continued to test the determined travelers. Heavy rains made the roads impassable. For about 2 weeks in early April, a group of about 300 wagons camped nearby at Locust Creek. Everything they owned was damp and supplies were running low. Warming weather increased their risk of rattlesnake bites and fire.
At Locust Creek, poet and camp clerk William Clayton received good news. He learned that his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy back in Nauvoo, Illinois. In honor of his son’s arrival, Clayton wrote the lyrics to the Latter-day Saints’ beloved anthem “Come, Come, Ye Saints” (originally titled “All is Well”). This song celebrates their faith and brought joy during the difficult journey.
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Below the text, is a map of south-central Iowa. North is up. The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail is shown as a purple line that zigzags from the bottom right to the top left of the map. You are located near Corydon, in the top middle of the map, which is marked by a black flag with “You Are Here” in white text. The Locust Creek Campsite is near the bottom right corner of the map, near a curved, blue line that represents Locust Creek.
Framed illustration near Locust Creek on map. Small, circled illustration shows groups of people are huddled in a muddy landscape. There are covered wagons in the background. Text for illustration: Locust Creek Campsite.
Text to the right of map: After you visit the Prairie Trails Museum, take a short drive to the former campsite. It’s about 15 miles, or 24 kilometers, southeast of here. End of Text
On the left side of the exhibit panel is a photocopy of a journal page with cursive handwriting. These are the lyrics to “Come, Come, Ye Saints” from William Clayton’s journal. In the top left corner of the page, is a circular, black-and-white photograph of a seated couple: William and Diantha Clayton. William is on the left and wears a button-down shirt with a dark cloak. Diantha is on the right and wears a dress with thin stripes and lace trim. Text with photograph: Diantha traveled the trail later to join William in Salt Lake City.
In the background of this panel, are faint musical notes that represent the tune of “Come, Come, Ye Saints.”
In the bottom left corner of the panel, is a QR code that you can scan with a mobile device to explore more about this wayside, including audio description.
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