Founded in 1847 by a group of Mormon settlers led by Brigham Young, Salt Lake City is the state capital of Utah as well as being its largest city. On arrival in the city, after travelling west to pursue a better home for The Mormons, Young is said to have remarked, “This is the right place, drive on.” The stunning Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake that surround the city make it hard to disagree with Young’s statement. Salt Lake City is of both great cultural and religious importance to the United States, so to ensure you have a fantastic time there we’ve found some of the best places to learn all about the area’s remarkable heritage.
Salt Lake Temple
When Brigham Young and the rest of the settlers arrived in Salt Lake City, one of their first tasks was to build a Mormon Temple to worship in. Though construction commenced on arrival in 1847 it took 40 years for Salt Lake Temple to be completed, but one look at this stunning building and its clear to see that it was worth the wait. Measuring an enormous 210ft the temple is and its grounds are certainly not to be missed.
Family History Library
The United States is a nation that’s foundation is built upon immigration and the Family History Library offers a great opportunity to find out about the people that make the great nation of the United States great. The library contains the largest genealogical database in the world, with records of over two billion people available. As well as providing you the tools to find out about your family history, the library also contains a superb activity area for children offering them the chance to learn all about immigration in the United States.
Cathedral of the Madeleine
Despite Salt Lake City being renowned for its large Mormon population the city is in fact extremely culturally diverse. The most notable Roman Catholic place of worship in the city is the beautiful Cathedral of the Madeleine. For any lovers of Gothic architecture the Cathedral is an absolute must. Though striking from the outside, to truly appreciate this remarkable building you must venture indoors where you will find majestic stained glass windows.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Established in 1999, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has performed all around the globe and even won a Grammy. The choir consists of 360 vocalists and is directed by Mack Wilberg, himself a native of Utah. If you’re lucky enough to be in Salt Lake City on a Thursday night then we thoroughly recommend you head down to the LDS Conference centre to listen to choir rehearse free of charge.
There’s no doubt that Salt Lake City is of great historical importance to the United States so why not hire a car and discover all this truly unique city has to offer.