Stamp the PastPlay free
Places › Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake Temple: then and now

1899 vs 2010 · Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake Temple, 2010Salt Lake Temple, 1899
NowThen
Then, 1899A colorized view from above of the temple, the round-roofed hall beside it and tree-lined paths.Photo: William Henry Jackson · Public domain · Source · resized, cropped
Today, 2010The tall white spires against a clear blue sky.Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source · resized

The story

The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was dedicated in 1893 after being constructed over a period of 40 years. At 382,207 square feet, it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area.

The center pinnacle rises 210 feet to the base of the angel Moroni statue. The large baptismal font is mounted on the backs of twelve oxen, like the Molten Sea in Solomon's Temple. Latter-day Saints consider the temple sacred, and a temple recommend is required to enter, so there are no public tours inside.

The first public photographs of the interior were published in 1912. The temple closed in 2019 for remodeling, including a seismic retrofit. The church plans public open house tours in 2027, after which it will be re-dedicated.

Did you know? The font rests on the backs of twelve oxen.
Historians argue about this. Many people think any famous landmark can be toured inside. Wikipedia says a temple recommend is required, so there are no public tours of the interior.

Fact or tall tale?

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Salt Lake Temple can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

Play Salt Lake City

More in Salt Lake City

Next: Beehive House. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.