Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City

Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City (must see)

Formerly known as the Hotel Utah, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is meant to impress and, in all candor, is very impressive indeed. Constructed between 1909-11, it was the "Grand Dame" of hotels in the Intermountain West for most of the 20th century, with the LDS Church as its chief stockholder. Topped by a huge cupola shaped as a beehive (Utah's state symbol), this lavish example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture stands out both for the elegant exterior design, as well as for the noble, high-class, epicurean interior décor and amenities.

John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Liberace, Warren Burger, John Glenn and Ella Fitzgerald all slept and dined here in their sojourn. Today, the building is a public venue and lounge, as well as an "active museum" of sorts. Make it a point to go to the top floor, where you will be treated to sublime, uninterrupted views of the Temple Square and the expansive downtown Salt Lake City core. When properly planning your itinerary, you may additionally elect to dine at the top-floor Garden Restaurant, which is guaranteed to render the experience truly unique and special.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salt Lake City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Map

Sight Name: Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Sight Location: Salt Lake City, USA (See walking tours in Salt Lake City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Salt Lake City, Utah

Create Your Own Walk in Salt Lake City

Create Your Own Walk in Salt Lake City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Salt Lake City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Salt Lake City Downtown Walk

Salt Lake City Downtown Walk

Salt Lake City's downtown epitomizes the city's settlement and growth. Renowned for its cleanliness, visitors often praise its meticulously planned layout, reminiscent of a Cartesian graph centered around Temple Square, a sacred site for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

In 1847, Brigham Young, leader of Mormon pioneer settlers, designated the site for...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Historical Buildings Tour

Historical Buildings Tour

Salt Lake City’s downtown is a good place to view historical buildings and sites, each with its unique story and significance, that reflect the city’s Mormon heritage and more.

One such edifice is the Devereaux Mansion, a stunning example of Second Empire architecture that stands as a testament to the city's prosperous past. The Salt Lake Temple, an iconic symbol of the city and a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Pioneers Trail

Pioneers Trail

After extensive religious persecution in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, the Mormon Pioneers made their way westward across the plains and mountains to a spot where Brigham Young said God had designated they should stop and settle. Unlike other social groups (farmers, miners, merchants) who created other western cities, these settlers arrived in Salt Lake Valley as a centrally organized...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles