Pioneer Memorial Museum, Salt Lake City

Pioneer Memorial Museum, Salt Lake City

Step back into the past at this museum dedicated to Utah pioneers, boasting "the world's largest collection of artifacts on one particular subject". The entirety of the building houses the everyday items that Mormon settlers brought with them and used – everything from teacups to sewing machines to eyeglasses to children's toys. Although most of the items are commonplace, some are quite a treat to see, such as a restored steam engine from the American Fire Engine Company or the dresses and doll collections. Some of the displays are truly bizarre, including a collection of rattlesnake rattles, a petrified potato, a two-headed lamb, Victorian hair art and a "bloodstone" that Mormon leader Brigham Young believed to be endowed with magical properties. In addition, you may find wonderful maps of the original Salt Lake Valley settlement, as well as a cool replica of the golden spike that marked the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

The museum does not seem that large, but it will take a while to make your way through due to the sheer volume of things to look at. The staff is made up of friendly volunteers that will offer a map to help with orientation. At a bare minimum, it will take around half an hour to walk through all of the floors and quickly glance through them, though you can easily spend an hour or more. No detail is left unturned on anything at all, with dozens of examples each time.

The Pioneer Memorial Museum is a nice spot to soak in some Utah history effortlessly by sight alone!

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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Pioneer Memorial Museum on Map

Sight Name: Pioneer Memorial Museum
Sight Location: Salt Lake City, USA (See walking tours in Salt Lake City)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
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.
Pioneers Trail

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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
Salt Lake City Downtown Walk

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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

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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