The
history and much of the present ambience of Utah's
capital are the result of the arrival in the Great Salt
Lake Valley -- in July 1847 -- of 148 Mormon pioneers who
had escaped religious oppression in the eastern states
and were looking for an area to settle in
peace.
Within
a year, many more Mormons made the arduous trek over the
Rocky Mountains to the valley and Great Salt Lake City
was a reality (the "Great" was dropped in 1868). The
transcontinental railroad arrived in the valley in 1869
and Utah became the 45th state in 1896. By then, the
Mormons had ended their practice of polygamy, and with
statehood, the modern city took shape.
The
Church of Latter Day Saints has put its stamp on Salt
Lake City. Temple Square is the major attraction in the
center of the city, with its Temple -- open only to
Mormons -- and the Tabernacle, open to all and where the
weekly concert by the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir is
given. Over the years, the Mormon Church has invested in
the city's infrastructure, including the building of the
$ 40 million downtown shopping mall.
What
to See & Do
The
While summer months bring tourists to the area to visit
Temple Square and other city attractions (including the
Wasatch Mountains which provide the dramatic
backdrop for the city), winter is when the tourist
industry really booms. There are eleven ski hills within
an hour's drive of the city. They range from the small
and cozy Sundance Resort (Robert Redford's place,
north of Provo), to the three big hills at
Park
City
just across the Wasatch Range from Salt Lake City. These
and other ski operations, such as Alta, Snowbird, Powder
Mountain and Snowbasin, provide all the action that any
dedicated downhill skier could handle in a month of
vacations.
The
best place to begin a stay in Salt Lake City is the
Visitor Information Center at 180 South West
Temple. It's open daily except Sunday and is in the
center of everything in the downtown area. Temple
Square is at 50 North West Temple and includes the
spired Temple, the Tabernacle and Assembly Hall which are
connected by a series of walkways and gardens. The famous
choir gives its weekly performance on Sundays at 9:30 am
with an open rehearsal on Thursday evenings at 8:00 PM.
Beehive House, Mormon founder Brigham Young's
first official residence, is a national historic site,
open to the public at 67 South East Temple.
Other
historical highlights include the Pioneer Memorial
Museum at 300 North Main, featuring 37 rooms of
exhibits focusing on Utah pioneer history, historic
vehicles and farm machinery. The Hansen
Planetarium is one of the best in the nation, with
two floors of astronomical exhibits and the star theater.
The Salt Lake Art Center at 20 South West Temple
has a two level gallery concentrating on contemporary
art. Symphony Hall, the home of the Utah Symphony, is
renowned for its near perfect acoustics.
For
railroad buffs, there are two old stations which deserve
attention. The Union Pacific Railroad Depot on
South Temple is a grand old station. The Rio Grande Depot
(300 South Rio Grande) is now occupied by the Utah State
Historical Society.
There
are many places to visit outside of the city including
Great Salt Lake State Park, located on the
southern edge of the lake, offering boat tours, paddle
boats and a close up look at the salt lake. For a
reminder of early Mormon history, visit Pioneer Trail
State Park, on East Sunnyside Avenue. The Old Desert
Village, a re created pioneer village, and the "This is
the Place" monument, are located here. This is the
location of the end of the 1,300 mile trail used by
Mormon travelers and others on their route west. Big
Cottonwood Canyon is a scenic resort area north of the
city which contains two ski hills -- Alta and
Snowbird
Day
Trips
More
historical highlights are included on a the Oquirrh
Loop Tour, which provides an excellent day trip from
the Salt Lake City. The tour begins just off Interstate
80, 16 miles west of downtown Salt Lake. From this
lakeside point, the tour leads to the Old Benson Grist
Mill (1860) near Stansbury Park. Continuing on 1 80, the
loop leads west to Exit 99. The mill is 2.5 miles from
the exit on Road 1378. Then take Highway 36 to Tooele
where the Utah Pioneers Museum is located on Vine Street.
The Tooele County Museum contains a mine simulation and
railroad displays. It's housed in the former Tooele
Valley Railroad depot, built in 1909.
Leaving
Tooele on Highways 36 and then Hwy. 73, the loop leads
you to the almost ghost town of Ophir (a common name for
mining camps in the West), located off the highway 20
miles southeast of Tooele. The town is located in a
beautiful canyon and still has a small population. East
of Ophir is Mercur, a silver and gold camp which burned
to the ground in 1885, was rebuilt and burned again in
1902. There is still a mining operation which provides a
display and video program. It's not possible to see the
old town. The loop returns to Salt Lake City by taking
Highway 73 south and then west through Cedar Fort and
north via Highway 68.
Aside
from skiing, there are other outdoor attractions in the
area. There are 17 public golf courses (11 with 18 holes)
in or close to the city, as well as others in Park City
and Provo which is a short drive south of town.
The
Wasatch region around Salt Lake City is especially
beautiful during the fall period when colors blaze on the
mountains in shades of gold, red, purple, brown and
green. The fall foliage is best seen by driving through
Cottonwood Canyons (Big & Little) and Emigrant
Canyon.
A
loop drive around the eastern slope of the Wasatch also
provides views of brilliant fall colors. This side of the
range includes Wasatch Mountain State Park, the
largest in the state with 22,000 acres of wooded
mountainside on the east side of the range, near Midway
(a half hour drive from downtown). The park has a 27 hole
golf course and campground. During the winter a network
of cross-country ski trails is groomed.
