Renowned Shakespeare performances and a magnificent naturally-carved canyon amphitheater can be found in the secreted Cedar City. Located in the colorful Iron County Utah area. It is an amazing surprise to those who have not visited south-central Utah.
Cedar City Natural Attractions
Cedar City is known as the gateway to splendid National Parks such as Bryce and Zion. In the area in and around Cedar City, one can glimpse small canyons and brilliant rock formations. A short 23 mile trip to amazing Cedar Breaks is not to be missed. Also about 30 miles from Cedar City is Brian Head, a scenic resort getaway for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
Cedar Breaks Area
Utah is one of the most beautiful states in the nation with rare natural wonders and diverse flora. One of the distinct wonders is Cedar Breaks National Monument (established in 1933) It boasts a naturally-carved amphitheater with spires (hoodoos) and other colorful and unusual rock formations.
Cedar Breaks lies at the west end of the Colorado Plateau, being formed by the uplift and erosion of millions of years. The Cedar Breaks red, orange, yellow and purple carved sandstone, limestone and shale walls of the amphitheater are 2000 feet deep, stretching for 3 miles in a semi-circle. The features of the monument are unique but can be compared to the spires (hoodoos) of nearby Bryce Canyon, and the walls and view of the Grand Canyon.
Bristlecone pine, a tree known to live longer than any other thing is found at the highest elevations with some specimens being more than 1600 years old. In the spring and summer, subalpine meadows at the rim level are covered with a variety of wildflowers. In the fall, the widely-known stunning fall leaves rival the splendor of the rocks, while in winter, the pure snow emphasizes the brilliance of the exposed rocks.
Indian Legends
Local Native Americans called the amphitheater “Circle of Painted Cliffs.” These Southern Paiute Indians thought that the hoodoos were actually frozen people. These rock people were trapped in stone due to their bad deeds in life.
East of Cedar City are many areas, such as Parowan Gap, rich with petroglyphs and pictographs. These were carved by the ancestors of the Southern Paiute, by the ancient Freemont Indians and by earlier Archaic peoples.
The Shakespeare Festival
Cedar City is also nationally known for its Tony award winning summer and fall Shakespeare Festival and has earned the name Festival City USA. An outdoor replica of the Globe Theatre holds professional performances of Shakespeare, with an additional indoor theatre for contemporary plays, music and other events.
Sources
Utah.com. Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Zion and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Cedar City. http://utah.com/cedarcity/
Cedar Breaks. Southern Paiute Indians.
Paula I. Nielson - Paula I. Nielson, Ph.D., holds credentials and interests in anthropology, archaeology, religion, the Middle East and Asia.
