A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
This Feb. 11, 1915, edition of the Deseret Evening News shows photographs of the newly-completed state Capitol building in Salt Lake City.
Per Deseret News archives, the cornerstone to the Capitol had been set on April 4, 1914. The Chamber of the House and the Senate Chamber were occupied by Utah leaders for the first time on Feb. 11, 1915, although the building itself wasn’t dedicated until Oct. 9, 1916.
Previously, the Legislature had met in several locations, including the Council House, Social Hall and the Salt Lake City-County Building.
Utahns who took a Utah history class or two through the years know the original building designated as such was the Territorial Statehouse, built in 1855 in Fillmore with the design of Truman O. Angell — head designer of the Salt Lake Temple — under the direction of Brigham Young.
However, only one wing of the statehouse — and one full session of the Legislature — was completed before relocating to Salt Lake City.
After the unsuccessful attempt to construct a thriving meetingplace in Fillmore, thought to be a potentially booming city, the newly-formed state sought funding for a permanent capitol building.
In a stroke of good fortune, money came in 1911 when the state collected $798,546 in inheritance tax from wealthy Union Pacific Railroad president E.H. Harriman, allowing Utah to secure a $1 million bond and construction of the Capitol to begin.
In the mid-2000s, after nearly 92 years since its first dedication, the Capitol building concluded restorations and seismic upgrades in 2008.
The original specs
- The interior Capitol dome is 165 feet above the rotunda floor.
- There are 14 lions’ heads and 10 beehives inside the chamber of the Utah House of Representatives.
- Gavin Jack sculpted the lions that originally stood at the east and west entrances of the Capitol in 1915. New lions were sculpted in 2007 by artist Nick Fairplay.
- The rotunda was left unfinished for nearly 20 years until artwork could be funded.
- The monolithic columns inside the Capitol are about 26 feet tall.
- There are 29 desks in the Senate chamber for each Utah senator.
- There are 75 desks inside the House chamber for each Utah representative.
- John C. Olmsted, son of the man who designed New York City’s Central Park, designed the landscaping for the Utah Capitol.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the Utah Capitol, its history and its future:
“Utah State Capitol — Then and now”
“Utah’s State Capitol a longstanding symbol of democracy”
“1914 ceremony ushered in coming of stately Utah capitol”
“Fixer-upper: State Capitol building is closing for 4-year, $200 million renovation”
“Capitol redux: Historic building’s renovation complete”
“Spring showcase: Cherry blossoms carpet Capitol with beautiful display”
“Photos: Utah’s documents on display at Capitol”
“The document that made Utah a state fetched $27K at auction”
“Fillmore was first capital city in early territorial history”
“Make Fillmore the capital of Utah (again)”
