An Architectural Walking Tour of Salt Lake City - 10 Landmarks You Won't Want to Miss

Salt Lake City's skyline exemplifies the strengths ofabout $ 53 million by today's standards), the Utah
the city itself. From its soaring secular architecture toState Capitol is in the style of Renaissance
its extraordinary public buildings, here are 10 Salt LakeRevival-style architecture. Designed by Richard Kletting,
City architectural landmarks you won't want to miss:the building had a progressive design that included
reinforced concrete, elevators and electric lighting. In
1. The most recognizable landmark in Salt Lake City is2004 the building was extensively renovated, and
Temple Square. Completed in 1892, the temple interiorartwork, fixtures and furnishings were conserved and
is only open to Mormons with current templeacquired.
recommendations which state the individual is living up6. Salt Lake Union Pacific Railroad Station embodies
to Church standards. However, tours given in 30the importance of the railroad to Utah's early
languages depart from the square daily and exploredevelopment. The station was built in 1909 at a cost of
the outside of the temple as well as notable$300,000 (almost $6.5 million in today's terms). The
surrounding buildings. There are also free concerts onexterior is French Second Empire and the interior is
the weekends by the famous Mormon TabernacleFrench Renaissance. The opulent station now features
Choir. The Temple features 16 foot thick granite walls,a concert venue, appropriately called The Depot.
6 spires, and a 22 karat gold statue of the angel7. The Salt Lake City Public Library was designed by
Moroni.Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. Featuring an
2. Another exemplary form of secular architecture isultra-modern design with flights of whimsy, the
the Cathedral of the Madeline. Completed in 1909, thewedge-shaped building features beautiful mountain
Cathedral's Romanesque exterior was designed byviews, perfect for contemplating any of the more than
Carl Neuhausen and its Gothic interior was designed500,000 books in the library's collection.
by John Theodore Comes. The Cathedral is open to8. Thomas Kearns was silver miner, a U.S. Senator
the public seven days a week, and features concertsand publisher of the Salt Lake Tribune. The 28-room
by nationally recognized organists.mansion he completed in 1902 is now the Utah
3. The Meditation Chapel is pink marble with intricategovernor's official residence. Designed by Carl
bronze doors and acid-etched windows. It was built byNeuhausen, the chateauesque home was restored in
Mr. and Mrs. Ross Beason in 1948 as a memorial to1996.
their son who died in World War II, and to all members9. David Keith was Thomas Kearns' partner in the
of the military whose remains were not recoveredSilver King Coalition mine, where the two struck it rich
after the war. The surrounding Memory Grove Parkin the Park City silver mines. His home, located on
contains more than 300 granite markers in memoriamSouth Temple Street, features intricate woodwork,
to Utah's servicemen.wall coverings, and stained glass.
4. The Salt Lake City and County Building was10. The McCune Mansion was completed in 1901 and
completed in 1894 and is an outstanding example ofrestored one hundred years later. The home was the
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The buildingresidence of Alfred and Elizabeth McCune and today
has gargoyles, towers, carved reliefs of Utah history,is used for wedding receptions. Featuring satin-grained
and a statue of Columbia, who was an early symbolmahogany from South America, roof tiles from the
of America. In the late 1980s it became the first buildingNetherlands, and a large mirror from Germany, the
in the world to be retrofitted with base isolators toMcCunes spared no expense in the construction of
protect it against damage from an earthquake. Thetheir house. The ceiling murals and decorative borders
building served as the state capitol until 1916.took an artist from New York City two years to finish.
5. Completed in 1915 at a cost of $2.74 million (which is