Looking down from this panoramic view of Bear Lake lies the town of Garden City. When the Mormons arrived they found an azure blue lake, long cold winters, cool summers and home. The early settlers had little problem with the Shoshone Indians, led by Chief Washakie, due to the friendly nature of the Shoshones and an agreement between the chief and Brigham Young.1

The Town was probably named by Wright A. Moore who said “We live in a city of beautiful gardens.” Garden City was established in 1877. After building a few aspen cabins, pioneers began the task of constructing an irrigation canal from Swan Creek in a southwestern direction to agricultural ground surrounding the town.

A second canal was dug to the north of Swan Creek by Alexander Sims and his sons. The homesteader’s property was laid out into twenty acre parcels and names were drawn from a hat to determine who got which parcel.2 Eight hundred acres were set aside for farming. Garden City's first post office opened in 1881.

" The early day amusements were entered into whole heartedly by the settlers. In the summer picnics, Fourth of July and Twenty-fourth of July celebrations were enjoyed. In the winter there were dances, skating parties, sleigh riding, home talent theaters. The women held quilting bees and rag bees."

Garden City got its first telephone in 1900. Prior to then, messages of importance had to be relayed by horseback.