Temple Square is a complex comprised of multiple city blocks that brings together multiple elements that define the past and present of Salt Lake City, Utah. Owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and featuring numerous buildings and landmarks that are important to it as well as to the entire state of Utah, Temple Square has fulfilled a vision to bring together the history and legacy of the entire region.
A Temple to the Mormon God
When Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, their leader Brigham Young selected a plot of the desert ground where he proclaimed they would build a temple to their God. Shortly thereafter, the surrounding site became known as Temple Square that would house the headquarters of the LDS Church. The cornerstone for what would become the Salt Lake Temple was laid in 1853.
The Salt Lake Temple is the most significant building in Temple Square. Dedicated in 1893, it is the sixth temple completed by the church, requiring 40 years to complete. It is not the only significant building on the complex though, as the Salt Lake Tabernacle was built in 1867 while what had been the Hotel Utah would be remodeled and renamed the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in 1993.
Various monuments reside in Temple Square as well. These include the Seagull Monument, which celebrates the role seagulls played in the pioneer’s first year in Utah, and the Handcart Pioneer monument, which is a tribute to the thousands of pioneers who walked across the rugged plains to the Utah Territory in the 1850s. The Bringham Young Monument is also a prominent feature of Temple Square, which has a direct connection to his official residences at the Beehive House, which also resides in Temple Square.
Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, Temple Square is a collection of history and culture that has come to define Salt Lake City. These numerous monuments and landmarks have individually and collectively cultivated interest and activity that can be seen in Temple Square itself and beyond.
The Most Visited Attraction in Utah
Temple Square is the most visited attraction in Utah, with an estimated 3 to 5 million regional, national, and international visitors each year. Free tours of the grounds, Conference Center, and historical residences are available on a regular basis. Many of these activities are centered around the two visitors centers in Temple Square, called the North Visitors’ Center and the South Visitors’ Center. As an additional means of engagement, the LDS Conference Center that was built in 2000 has a capacity of over 21,000 and to host gathering of all types.
The holiday lights adorning Temple Square attract tens of thousands of visitors from Thanksgiving to New Years. It also hosts dozens of events, exhibits, and other experiences throughout the year. Concerts, exhibits and tours are just a few of the activities that are scheduled for Temple Square on a regular basis.
In terms of a direct economic impact, the Lion House Pantry offers home-style meals made from recipes passed down through generations. The Roof Restaurant that resides in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building attracts many of the visitors that stop by Temple Square all year long. Additionally, the Lion House building is available for kids’ parties, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building can be reserved for reunions.
Highlighted in every map and guide to the city, Temple Square is where many tours of the city begin and end. While visitors can get a strong sense of how it connects to the past and present of Salt Lake City, the way that residents have been able to embrace the collection of landmarks and monuments that it contains showcases how it will have just as much of an impact on the future.
A Means of Identity and Connection
The history of 19th-century Utah is on full display across Temple Square but the natural beauty of the area that has been preserved and cultivated hints at the deeper vision for the space that has been there since the beginning. That larger vision has allowed Temple Square to become a means of identity that permeates the wider city and region.
The three city blocks in downtown Salt Lake City that make up Temple Square contain nearly 20 attractions related to the founding of the city and ways to experience the legacy of Utah as a whole, providing audiences with a unique way to connect with the history and legacy it represents.
