Randall J Morris - Traveling the U.S.: Utah

Traveling theU.S.:

Utah

Randall J. Morris

INTRODUCTION

Its easy for most people who love totravel to get excited about traveling. Im always excited when Ivisit a new country or a new state and I get to explore thehistory. Its surprisingly more difficult to get excited about thehistory thats available closer to your home. I know a lot ofpeople who havent visited the historic locations of their owncountry, state, or city. With the exception of the two years that Ilived in the Philippines, Ive lived in Utah since I was fifteen.Until recently, I had never visited the Utah State Capitol. I hadonly been to the Salt Lake temple a handful of times and I hadnever really walked around Temple Square. I had visited the LionHouse and the Beehive House once each (and Im pretty sure that wason a tour set up when we were visiting from out of state before wemoved here.) I had seen all of these places as I was drivingaround, but it became normal and not that interesting.

In Traveling the U.S.: Utah, I wont befocusing on canyons, mountains, or great hotels to stay at. Immore interested in the history I havent paid enough attention toin the years that Ive lived here. I hope you enjoy the historicsites that are sometimes an overlooked part of Utahs history. Thisis the fifth book in my travel photo series. If you enjoy this one,please check out Traveling Asia: The Philippines, Traveling Asia:Tokyo, Taipei, and Hong Kong, Traveling the U.S.: Hawaii, andTraveling the U.S.: East Coast History.

-Randy Morris 4/24/14

UTAH STATECAPITOL

The Utah State Capitol was designed byarchitect Richard K.A. Kletting and built between 1912 and 1916. Itis home to the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor,Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, the State Auditor and theirstaffs. The Utah State Capitol was added to the National Registerof Historic Places in 1978. The Utah State Capitol sits on CapitolHill, overlooking downtown Salt Lake. It was renovated in 2004 witha base isolation system and is now capable of withstanding up to a7.3 magnitude earthquake. The front of the Utah State Capitol alsofeatures two beehives with the word industry along the bottom.Beehives were called deseret in the Book of Mormon by the Jareditesand were an important symbol of an industrious life to the earlypioneers.

A quick walk around the Capitol willlead you to a monument dedicated to the Mormon Battalion. Thebattalion served from July 1846 to July 1847 during theMexican-American War. It consisted of around 500 volunteers thatwere led by Mormon religious leaders (who reported to U.S. armyofficers.)

The next statue I came across was oneof Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag when the pilgrims arrivedat Plymouth. He saved the early English colonists from likelystarvation when they first arrived at Plymouth. Ill include photosof the Utah State Capitol (with a picture of one of the beehives),the Mormon Battalion monument, and the statue ofMassasoit.

SALT LAKE CITY COUNCILHALL

The Salt Lake City CouncilHall was designed by architect William H. Folsom (the officialarchitect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at thetime.) Sandstone for the building was shipped from Red Butte Canyonvia railroad. The Salt Lake City Council Hall was built between1864 and 1866. It served as city hall from 1866 to 1894 and then aspolice headquarters from 1894 to 1915. It was dismantled and movedto Capitol Hill in 1961 to make room for a federal office buildingin downtown Salt Lake. It currently is used as offices forthe Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah FilmCommission. Photos include two shots of the building and one of theone of the painted bison out front.

LDS CHURCH OFFICEBUILDING

The LDS Church Office Building wasbuilt between 1962 and 1972. The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-Day Saints centralized the offices for many different churchprojects (including production of church films, magazines, etc.,translation of church materials into other languages, and more) inthe Church Office Building after its completion. The building wasdesigned by George Cannon Young and cost $31 million.

THE LION HOUSE

The Lion House is one of two residencesowned by Brigham Young in downtown Salt Lake City. Brigham Young(second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-DaySaints and Utah territorial governor) built the Lion House between1855 and 1856 to house many of his wives and children. As apolygamist, Brigham Young had 57 biological children from over twodozen wives and had many step-children and adopted children aswell. The Lion House is next to the Beehive House, Brigham Youngsother downtown Salt Lake residence. Both houses are close to theLDS Salt Lake temple. The Lion House gets its name from the lionstatue that sits near the top (and Ive included a close-up pictureof the lion statue.) Brigham Young died in the Lion House on August29, 1877.