Top Historical Sites and Landmarks in Salt Lake City

Amy McMahon

Salt Lake City, Utah's capital, is full of important and iconic historical landmarks. The city was established by Mormon pioneers in 1847, who went to build a city full of beautiful temples and memorials. Even if you're not a member of the LDS church, though, as the Crossroads of the West, Salt Lake has plenty of other worthwhile historical monuments scattered throughout the city and surrounding region. Whether you want to see temples or churches, historical houses or original farms, there's something for you to see in Salt Lake City!

Golden Spike National Historical Park, Salt Lake Utah Temple, Family History Library, Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park, Wheeler Historic Farm, Utah State Capitol, This Is The Place Heritage Park, Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City Tabernacle, Beehive House, Seagull Monument, Temple Square

  • Golden Spike National Historical Park, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Train lovers, unite! Or, come visit Golden Spike National Historical Park, at least. This spot in Promontory Summit, Utah (just outside of SLC) was where the "Last Spike" was placed to complete the Transcontinental Railroad. This changed the American West forever and pushed Salt Lake City into its boomtown years. Nowadays, come for the views and the historical steam engines!

  • Salt Lake Utah Temple in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      For the most ornate building in Salt Lake (and probably Utah), look no further than the Salt Lake Temple, from which Temple Square gets its name. Although you can only go inside the temple if you're a member of the Mormon church, it's still worth a visit!

  • Family History Library in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Ready to go deep into your own personal family history? The Family History Library in SLC, the largest genealogical library in the world, is just the place to do that. You can search on your own or get help from the library's experts to find some answers about your own genealogy.

  • Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      For a foray into more recent history, throw it back to 2002 (which was over 20 years ago now, yikes!) with a visit to Salt Lake's Olympic Cauldron Park. The 2002 Winter Olympics were hosted by SLC and the surrounding mountains and made a big impact on the growth and development of little ole Salt Lake.

  • Wheeler Historic Farm, United States

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    • amy.mac

      For a true taste of history, visit one of the Salt Lake Valley's OG farmsteads in Murray (just outside of SLC). The Wheeler Historic Farm was settled in the late 19th century and is still run in much the same way, although for museum purposes, nowadays. If you want to see what it was like to homestead in Utah way back then, you must venture out to Wheeler Farm.

  • Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      To see history being made in real-time, visit the Utah State Capitol in the middle of Salt Lake City. The Capitol was built over a century ago and has been one of Utah's most recognizable landmarks ever since. See if you can spot the various beehive decorations, including the giant beehive sculptures—beehives are the symbols of Utah and the ideals of working together for the good of the whole.

  • This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      As the legend goes, "this is the place" were the words uttered by Brigham Young upon arrival in what is now Salt Lake City. Visit the heritage park for a monument commemorating this moment, and for a glimpse of what life was back then at the living history museum.

  • Great Salt Lake, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Feeling salty? Make sure to pay the Great Salt Lake a visit when you're in Salt Lake City! That's where the city got it's name, after all (if you hadn't guessed that already). As the biggest salt lake in the western hemisphere, this massive body of water creates its own weather. Also, you'll float super easily, just like in the Dead Sea.

  • Salt Lake City Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Come for the architecture, stay for the acoustics! The Tabernacle, unlike the Salt Lake Temple, is open to the public (a.k.a., non-Mormons). It's also home to the famous Tabernacle Choir, which will basically make you feel like you've been sent right to heaven.

  • Beehive House in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Brigham Young, maybe the most famous Mormon of all, and founder of Salt Lake City, once lived in this beautifully preserved house with (some) of his (many) wives, and a lot of his 57 children. It's now a house museum with free tours on the daily.

  • Seagull Monument in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      Seagulls? In Utah? Who knew? These birds, which were integral in the Mormon pioneer's first successful crop (they swooped in and decimated pests that were destroying said crop), now are an important symbol of Salt Lake City. Visit the Seagull Monument commemorating this event in Temple Square.

  • Temple Square in Salt Lake City, United States

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    • amy.mac

      For the most beautiful temples (and buildings) in Salt Lake City, Temple Square is the place to go! This 10-acre plot is the center of the city, and includes the Salt Lake Temple, the Assembly Hall, and extensive gardens.