Capitol Hill District

Capitol Hill District, Salt Lake City, Utah (A)

Perhaps no city in America sees religion and politics mingled in such near proximity as Salt Lake City. Its place as both the state capitol of Utah and the center of the Mormon Church make it a unique city in that sense, and this tour will explore a group of site braiding these themes together from separate threads.
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Sights Featured in This Article

Guide Name: Capitol Hill District
Guide Location: USA » Salt Lake City
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Article (A))
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 3.0 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Author: Jim Reynoldson
Author Bio: Jim Reynoldson is an avid traveler and writer who grew up in Oregon. He enjoys hiking, camping, and sightseeing throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
  • Kearns Mansion
  • First Presbyterian Church
  • Cathedral of the Madeleine
  • Ottinger Hall
  • Memory Grove Park
  • Council Hall
  • Utah State Capitol
  • Pioneer Memorial Museum
1
Kearns Mansion

1) Kearns Mansion

This beautiful mansion sits along East South Temple Street – just a few blocks east of Temple Square. Built in 1902 by the successful silver-mining tycoon Thomas Kearns, the mansion hosted many high-society events of the era, as well as many famous dignitaries including Teddy Roosevelt. The mansion was donated to the state in 1937 and has served as the official Utah Governor’s mansion off and on throughout the years since. Constructed from limestone, the building featured some of the most ornate woodwork and plasterwork of the time until a fire destroyed much of the interior in 1993. Much of the original craftsmanship was painstakingly reconstructed in the following months, and the mansion was renovated. Free public tours are available by volunteers of the Utah Heritage Foundation.
2
First Presbyterian Church

2) First Presbyterian Church

One of the three oldest religious structures in Salt Lake City is, surprisingly, not Mormon. The First Presbyterian Church was built in 1903 and restored for its centennial celebration in 2003. This Gothic Revival cathedral was designed by architect Walter Ware, modeled after the Carlisle Cathedral in England, and constructed from red sandstone quarried from nearby Red Butte Canyon. Three massive, ornate stained-glass windows grace the cathedral – one depicting the “Empty Tomb”, another “Christ in the Manger”, and the third “Christ in Gethsemane”. The 2000-pipe Bennett organ was originally dedicated in 1911 and electrified in 1926. Visitors are welcome to attend services at 9 and 11 am on Sundays, or view the church during office hours – Monday through Thursday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
3
Cathedral of the Madeleine

3) Cathedral of the Madeleine

This Romanesque Catholic cathedral with Gothic interior sits just a few blocks east from the center of the Mormon faith in downtown Salt Lake City. Built from Utah sandstone, construction began in 1900 and was completed in 1909, at a cost of $344,000 – dedicated that year by Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore. Catholics are the largest minority faith in the city, and this ornate cathedral serves as its centerpiece. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the cathedral was renovated and restored between 1991 and 1993, at a cost of $9.7 million dollars. The vibrantly colored murals and stained glass windows, marble floors, gorgeous onyx altar, and massive 4000-pipe organ are just a few of the impressive reasons to stop by for a visit.
Image Courtesy of Adrian Comollo.
4
Ottinger Hall

4) Ottinger Hall

This building sits just south of the main entrance to Memory Grove Park, and is on the National Registry of Historic places. The hall was constructed in 1900 by the Volunteer Firemen’s Association and named after its leader, George M. Ottinger. Originally used as a social gathering place for fire fighters of the era, the hall is today used for community events and host of the YouthCity program – which provides fun activities like camps, sports leagues, and classes in art and dance for kids when school is not in session. The hall was renovated in 2006, spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Salt Lake City.
Image Courtesy of Bobshaw25.
5
Memory Grove Park

5) Memory Grove Park

Originally designated as a city park in 1902, this green space occupies a peaceful spot in City Creek Canyon – tucked away in a nearly hidden pocket just down the hill from the Utah State Capitol building. Gardens, lawns, water features, and beautiful monuments provide a perfect setting for reflection – as the park began a theme honoring military veterans starting in the 1920’s. Trails throughout the park are available for walking, running, or biking – including a zigzag of trails leading up the wooded hillside westward to the capitol itself. Dogs are also welcome – with the park even containing a designated off-leash area.
6
Council Hall

6) Council Hall

Currently sitting directly across from the Utah State Capitol building, the Greek revival-style Council Hall building was originally constructed in 1866 on East 1st Street, and then dismantled in 1961 to be moved to its new location. Serving as City Hall between 1866 and 1894, the building was the location of several volatile political events – most of which stemmed from the power struggle between the federal and state governments. Now peacefully retired from the conflict and strife of its past in politics, Council Hall now spends its golden years serving as the Utah Office of Tourism, the Utah Film Commission, and the Zion Natural History Association bookstore.
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Utah State Capitol

7) Utah State Capitol

Perched on a hilltop above downtown, this majestic state capital building was designed by Utah architect Richard K.A. Kletting and constructed in 1916. A classically styled building inspired by Greek and Corinthian design, the Utah State Capitol is 404 feet long and 285 feet high at the top of the dome, and made of quartz monzonite quarried from nearby Little Cottonwood Canyon. The 40-acre state capitol grounds also include a number of monuments honoring Vietnam veterans, the Mormon Battalion, and police, among others. Added to the National Register of Historic places in 1978, the building underwent a renovation project beginning in 2004 to add a base isolation system – allowing the building’s weight to safely transfer in the event of an earthquake.
8
Pioneer Memorial Museum

8) Pioneer Memorial Museum

This museum – located next to the Utah State Capitol – is run by the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Said to house the “world’s largest collection of artifacts on one particular subject”, the museum covers Utah Pioneer history spanning from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Mormon migration to Utah. Four floors, plus a carriage house, offer 38 themed rooms of museum artifacts and exhibits – including the “Medical Room”, “Brigham Young’s Wagon”, and the “Clothing Room”. As an organization, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers was founded in 1901 to preserve the region’s history. Admission is free, and the museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, as well as Sundays during the summer from 1 to 5 pm.

To end the tour, simply walk three blocks south down Main Street to the downtown Temple Square area – where a number of public transportation options are available to destinations throughout the city.

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

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
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
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