In 1847, when Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, president Brigham Young selected a plot of the desert ground and proclaimed, "Here we will build a temple to our God." When the city was surveyed, the block enclosing that location became known as Temple Square and a 15-foot surrounding wall was built shortly after the block was so designated. Now attracting 3 million to 5 million visitors a year, Temple Square is the most popular tourist attraction in Utah, bringing in more visitors than the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park.

Though the 10-acre (4.0 hectares) complex is mostly known as the headquarters of the LDS Church, other buildings currently contained within are the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors' centers, the one on the north being the larger of the two. Most of the buildings are open and you are free to walk in and look around, enjoy the well-tended grounds, sneak in a picture by the reflecting pool, or have dinner/coffee in the coffee shop or restaurant on site. Let's not forget the many statues and flower beds for everyone to enjoy!

The grounds, as well as the Gardens at Temple Square, often host concerts and other events. During the Christmas holiday season, approximately 100,000 Christmas lights sparkle from trees and shrubs around Temple Square each evening until 10 pm. The lighting of Temple Square is a popular event, usually attended by more than 10,000 people.

City Creek Center (CCC) in Salt Lake City stands as an impressive, award-winning shopping complex right across from Temple Square, marrying outdoor charm with upscale retail. Opened in 2012, this mixed-use development sprawls over 23 acres and blends a unique shopping experience with residential and office spaces. Known for its aesthetic appeal, the center includes a stunning retractable glass roof, creating a versatile open-air environment suitable for all seasons.

At the heart of CCC is an exquisitely landscaped creek that mirrors the original City Creek, winding its way through the main walkway with waterfalls, boulders, and fountains crafted to reflect the nearby Wasatch Range. WET Design, the creators of Salt Lake City’s Olympic cauldron, also contributed dazzling water features throughout the complex, including a splash pad and interactive fountain with lights, music, and even fire.

CCC is unique among U.S. malls for its Sunday closure, a nod to its partial ownership by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Two historic facades, from the ZCMI Cast Iron Front and the Amussen Jewelry Building, add architectural depth to the modern layout. Pedestrians can explore lush walkways, plazas, and pocket parks across multiple levels, all connected by green spaces that foster urban integration. Additionally, the center reconnects streets once lost to development, providing an urban oasis and a welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike.

Key retail anchors like Nordstrom and Macy’s, as well as exclusive high-end brands such as Tiffany & Company, Porsche Design, and Swarovski, make CCC a unique shopping destination in Utah. A Harmons grocery store serves practical needs, while the food court, located between the KeyBank Tower and World Trade Center, provides diverse dining options, from local favorites to mainstream eateries. Adding to the experience is the stunning sky bridge, linking the center across Main Street with panoramic views and TRAX light rail access directly below.

With its thoughtfully designed spaces, City Creek Center is more than a mall; it’s a destination for those seeking luxury, convenience, and a taste of Salt Lake City’s evolving urban landscape.

A great marvel of sound and acoustics, this domed building is the home of the famed Tabernacle Choir, and was the previous home of the Utah Symphony Orchestra until the construction of Abravanel Hall. Inside, the beautiful pipe organ – one of the largest in the world – is something to see, but catching a Sunday morning choir performance (or a rehearsal at the least – Thursdays at 7:30pm) counts as one of those experiences of a life time. Both the tour and the choir concerts/rehearsals are free to the public, by the way!

At a time before electronics and audio amplifiers, the Tabernacle was constructed with remarkable acoustic qualities so the entire congregation could hear sermons given here. The roof was built in a three-dimensional ellipse – a concept that came from none other than church president Brigham Young, who reportedly said that the design was inspired by "the best sounding board in the world ... the roof of my mouth." It is common for LDS missionary tour guides to demonstrate the acoustics by dropping a pin on the pulpit or tearing a newspaper there, which can be heard throughout the building.

Built without nails, the structure itself was an architectural wonder in its day, prompting a writer for Scientific American to comment on "the mechanical difficulties of attending the construction of so ponderous a roof." Apparently, the supporting beams were made by a shipbuilder, who used his knowledge to hold together the dome by means of horsehair and leather alone. In 1882, while on a lecture tour of America, Oscar Wilde noted that the building had the appearance of a soup-kettle; he added that it was the most purely dreadful building he ever saw. Some visitors around the beginning of the 20th century criticized it as "a prodigious tortoise that has lost its way" or "the Church of the Holy Turtle," but Frank Lloyd Wright dubbed the Tabernacle "one of the architectural masterpieces of the country and perhaps the world."

The first house to be built on a scale that could be described as a "mansion" in the Salt Lake Valley, Devereaux House is also among the best-known local examples of the Second Empire style, which was widely used for public architecture in France during the reign of Napoleon III. Most prominent in this respect is the mansard roof that forms the 3rd floor – an 1860s addition to the original Gothic cottage. Owned by William Jennings, the city's first millionaire, the mansion soon became a social center for the area, hosting the territory's most prestigious visitors, including presidents and generals, foreign dignitaries and celebrities of the time.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the building in 2005 and maintains it as a historic site with occasional use for receptions and other events. Noted for the high quality of its woodwork and appointments, it has been preserved in the middle of the city without a perimeter fence, so the yard has the appearance of a park. It is surrounded by larger and newer structures including Vivint Smart Home Arena, the Triad Center, the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot and the surrounding The Gateway development.

The Gateway District in Salt Lake City stands as a lively open-air retail, residential, and office hub, seamlessly blending modern urban living with historic charm. Centered around the iconic Union Pacific Depot on the west side of downtown, this complex spans between 50 North and 200 South Streets and between 400 and 500 West streets. Over the years, The Gateway has evolved from its original mall concept into Salt Lake City’s go-to destination for dining, shopping, and cultural experiences.

The Gateway is home to over a million square feet of retail and dining, sophisticated office spaces, and innovative residential options, creating a vibrant atmosphere that draws locals and visitors alike. Key attractions include Utah's first Dave & Buster's, Megaplex Theatres (also a Sundance Film Festival venue), La Barba Coffee, Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, and Wiseguys Comedy Club.

Adding to its cultural significance, the district fosters local and international art through venues like the Women-Owned Small Business (W.O.S.B.) Collective, which showcases exclusive products from women-owned businesses around the world. Furthermore, The Gateway’s tech-focused tenants, such as Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Kiln Co-Working Space, contribute to Salt Lake City’s emerging startup and technology scene.

The Gateway District is more than a shopping area-it’s a community-driven space where dining, entertainment, and creativity come together. With easy public transit access, pedestrian-friendly streets, and a dynamic calendar of events, The Gateway invites everyone to experience Salt Lake City’s downtown in a uniquely vibrant way.

The centerpiece of Temple Square, this beautiful neo-gothic edifice took 40 years to build at the direction of then Church President, Brigham Young, and has withstood the test of time since being dedicated in 1893. The granite-like quartz monzonite was quarried in Little Cottonwood Canyon, 22 miles south of the site, and was then laboriously hauled by oxen, stone by stone, until the railroad became operational in 1869. Oriented towards Jerusalem and incorporating a host of symbolic designs and decorations, many of which are visible on the exterior, it remains the largest LDS temple by floor area (253,015 square feet / 23,505.9 square meters). Its massive presence is a marvel, considering there was no electricity, no computers, nor any other artificial means used during construction. The stone masonry is so precise, there is not even mortar between the stones! And then to think the pioneers built this huge edifice in the middle of a desert guided by faith is just awesome.

As with all LDS temples, only qualifying members of the LDS faith can enter the building (used primarily for marriages, baptisms for the dead, religious ritual instruction, and meetings of the First Presidency and of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), but visitors can walk around the exterior and enter other historic structures nearby. During the winter months the beauties of the world-famous flower beds are replaced by nativity displays and millions of Christmas lights strung through all the trees on Temple Square, making it a hugely popular destination for visitors and locals alike.

***PIONEERS TRAIL***
As noted by the scholars, "Brigham Young was almost sole author of one of the most important chapters in the history of the American West." When the first group of pioneers, led by Young, entered Immigration Canyon overlooking the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, Young (who had been ill and was bedded in a covered wagon) rose long enough to gaze out over the valley and famously declared "This is the right place. Drive on." Those with him clearly understood that he was talking about his vision of where the Latter-Day Saints were to settle. It should be noted that Church leaders and members alike felt that settling in Utah (near the Rockies) would fulfill Isaiah 2:2 - "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house [temple] shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."

Perhaps among Young's greatest visible accomplishments was his initiation of the construction of the world famous Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle on Temple Square, and the incredible construction of a system of miles and miles of irrigation canals that fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 35:1 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."

Tip:
One of the best (and free!) views of the edifice (and of Temple Square) is from the atrium and inside of The Roof restaurant, located on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, a short walk and elevator ride directly to the east.

Situated on a prominent corner location on Capitol Hill, the McCune Mansion majestically overlooks Temple Square and downtown Salt Lake City. According to the sign on site, it was built in 1901 by railroad and mining tycoon Alfred McCune, who spared little expense on design and decoration, having even financed a two-year tour of America and Europe for architect S.C. Dallas to study different designs and techniques. The chosen design was a Gothic revival plan with East Asian influence, replicating a house that the McCunes saw while driving in New York City.

Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the extravagant mansion features imported materials from many parts of the world. McCune had mahogany shipped from San Domingo, oak from England, and a rare white-grained mahogany from South Africa. The red roof tiles came from the Netherlands, and an enormous broad mirror wall was transported from Germany in a specially-made railroad car. The walls were adorned with moiré silks, tapestries, and Russian leather, and only the exterior was built of locally-sourced red sandstone – though some details like the lavish fireplaces used more exotic stone like Nubian marble. At its completion, the mansion had cost McCune one million dollars.

Lovingly restored to its original grandeur, the privately-owned building is open to private tours, business events, weddings and other special occasions. Historical tours are provided by Preservation Utah – call ahead to schedule your tour time.

Sitting up on the hillside above the corner of 200 North and State Street, this large two-and-a-half story mansion shows influence of the Second Renaissance Revival, a style popular at the turn of the century for public buildings and homes of the wealthy. The delightful bed and breakfast on site, Inn on the Hill, is open daily, allowing fantastic views of Salt Lake City.

Original owner, Edward D. Woodruff, was a Union Pacific medical doctor who, on moving to SLC, entered into commerce, having immediately become successful in a number of speculative enterprises. In 1906, at the height of his fortunes, he built this mansion and as befitted an entrepreneur of his eminence, he chose the city's prestigious firm of Headlund and Wood to execute the design in a befittingly baronial style. Made to resemble traditional English manor houses, the interior was handsomely decorated with stained glass, mahogany paneling, generous leather coverings, and mural-adorned walls.

The house eventually passed into the hands of Woodruff's daughter and her husband Franklin Riter, a lawyer who was called into active service during WWII. In his role as Head of the European Branch Office of the Judge Advocate General Army and as chief of the Army Board of Review in Europe, Riter was deeply involved in the Private Slovik case when tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers were deserting in Europe and Eisenhower approved Slovik's firing squad to set an example.

The Cathedral of the Madeleine, located in the heart of Salt Lake City, is a testament to Catholic presence in a city known as the headquarters of the Mormon faith. This impressive structure, completed in 1909 with land gifted by the Mormons and significant construction support from Mormon volunteers, serves as the mother church of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. The only cathedral in the United States dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, its Neo-Romanesque sandstone exterior and cross-shaped layout honor its historical roots, while its Spanish Gothic-inspired interior, adorned with colorful ceiling murals, icons, and stained glass, adds a vibrant and sacred aesthetic.

The cathedral's contemporary Stations of the Cross include images influenced by the American Southwest alongside traditional iconography, showcasing a blend of religious and cultural significance. Inside, visitors will find a separate Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a baptismal font, and the resting place of Bishop Lawrence Scanlan, the diocese’s founding bishop who dedicated the cathedral. A relic of Saint Mary Magdalene, once housed here, was recently stolen in July 2024, marking a rare and unfortunate event for this cathedral, which was one of only two in the world with a first-class relic of the saint.

Renowned for its musical heritage, the Cathedral of the Madeleine hosts the only co-educational Catholic Choir School in the U.S., with choristers performing regularly and embarking on tours both nationally and internationally. Established in 1996, the Madeleine Choir School has become an integral part of the cathedral’s spiritual and cultural life, drawing audiences from far and wide. Visitors can explore this remarkable place, though those wishing to walk freely through the cathedral should avoid visiting during services. With its rich history, unique architectural details, and active role in the arts, the Cathedral of the Madeleine is both a spiritual landmark and a cultural treasure in Salt Lake City.