📚November Artifact of the Month: Picture of the Woodward School
- Melanee Olsen
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
This month’s featured artifact is a photograph of the Woodward School, the first permanent school building in St. George — completed in 1901 after years of determined effort by the local community.
What makes this photo special is its wintery scene — a rare glimpse of St. George blanketed in snow!
The Woodward School was named after George Woodward, a devoted advocate for education. Though he and his wife, Tamsin, had no children of their own, he gave tirelessly to the cause of learning. He contributed $3,600, paid for the heating plant, and even donated a piano to the school.
At the time, students could complete up to 10th grade, the highest level offered locally. Soon after, the St. George Academy opened to offer advanced education — the early foundation of Dixie’s strong educational tradition.
📅 Reminder: Join us for this month’s Third Weekend Event,“
Pioneer Education” presented by Kathleen Broeder
🕙 Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 10 AM in the museum basement.
Explore the fascinating story of how early settlers built schools and fostered learning across southern Utah.
📍 Visit the photo in Room 7 during your next visit!
The Artifact of the Month series at the McQuarrie Memorial Museum (also known as the DUP Museum or Pioneer Museum) highlights unique items from our collection that share the stories of pioneer life. Each artifact offers a glimpse into the heritage we preserve for future generations.
