Fillmore's centennial committee has received a $25,000 grant from the Millard County Centennial Committee to build a new pavilion at the city park.
Private donations are also being sought for the project. These should be sent to the Fillmore City Centennial Committee, Box 687, Fillmore, UT 84631.The pavilion will be built near the Territorial Statehouse. An old fireplace will be razed to make way for pavilion construction.
The Territorial Statehouse served Utah for two years with aspirations that it would be the hub of the early Mormon Empire. But that didn't happen, and the state Capitol was moved to Salt Lake City.
The old Statehouse is now a cherished a museum. The building is one of the finest preserved pieces of pioneer architecture in the state and is the oldest existing government building. The museum houses a variety of pioneer-era artifacts and paintings by pioneer and contemporary Utah arts. Fillmore was one of the first Mormon settlements during the early settlement of communities in remote areas away from the Wasatch Front. It was selected as the initial Capitol because of its central location in the territory.
Construction on the Territorial Statehouse was started in 1852. Three levels and four wings were planned, but only one wing was completed because of lack of funding. The territorial legislature met there in December of 1855, but the seat of government was returned to Salt Lake City in 1858. The building has functioned as a civic center, religious meeting house, school, theater and jail.
The Territorial Statehouse and grounds became a state park in 1957. It is listed on the state and national registers of historic places.