McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum history

The history of the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum is deeply connected to the generosity and vision of Hortense McQuarrie Odlum, a woman whose roots in St. George and commitment to preserving pioneer heritage made the museum possible.

Hortense McQuarrie Odlum, whose generosity in 1938 made the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum possible.

Raised in St. George, Hortense “Tenny” McQuarrie Odlum graduated from Brigham Young University and became the first woman president of a major department store in the United States, leading the famous Bonwit Teller store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Despite her professional success far from Southern Utah, she remained deeply connected to her pioneer heritage.

When the Daughters of Utah Pioneers sought support for a permanent home for their growing collection of pioneer artifacts, Mrs. Odlum responded with remarkable generosity. She donated $17,500 to fund the construction of a museum building in St. George, ensuring that pioneer history would be preserved and shared with future generations. The building, named McQuarrie Memorial Hall in honor of her grandparents, was dedicated in June 1938 as a Pioneer Museum.

Hortense McQuarrie Odlum with community leaders at the 1938 dedication of McQuarrie Memorial Hall in St. George.

Guests and community leaders gather around McQuarrie Memorial Hall during its dedication in 1938, shortly after it was built with Hortense McQuarrie Odlum’s support.

In addition to funding the building, Mrs. Odlum donated many personal family items to the museum’s collection. These artifacts, now displayed in Room 7, offer visitors a tangible connection to the McQuarrie family and the broader pioneer story of Washington County.

Hortense McQuarrie Odlum’s contribution laid the foundation for what would become the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum—a place of learning, preservation, and community connection for generations. Her generosity ensured the survival of pioneer artifacts and created a lasting legacy that continues to serve the community today.

The McQuarrie family’s support did not end there. In later years, the museum was expanded through the generosity of Ferol McQuarrie Kincade Moore, building upon the legacy Hortense began. We look forward to sharing that story in a future post.

We remain deeply grateful for Hortense McQuarrie Odlum and the enduring impact of her generosity on the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum.