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Salt Lake City Maps & Attractions Guide
Salt Lake City maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Salt Lake City
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Salt Lake City
Attractions - Things to do
1. Temple Square
15 East South Temple
www.go-utah.com/Temple-Square |
What is it? The four-hectare (10-acre) Temple Square
complex includes the Mormon Temple, the Tabernacle and the Assembly
Hall. It is at the heart of Salt Lake City, in location and
spiritual importance, and the symbolic epicentre of the Mormon
religion or Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Temple
Square is the city's biggest attraction, particularly the majestic
six-spired Temple, topped by a golden statue of the Angel Moroni,
which forms a striking silhouette on the city's skyline. The Temple
was completed in 1893 after 40 years of heavy labour and the
expenditure of millions of dollars. It is a holy place closed to
the non-Mormon public. Confirmed believers may enter the Temple,
but only for the most sacred of religious ceremonies, and
non-Mormons can learn about temple activities at the visitor
centres. The oval shape of the Tabernacle, topped by an impressive
domed roof, is home to the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir
whose weekly rehearsals and organ recitals are open to all free of
charge, and illustrate the outstanding acoustic properties of the
Tabernacle building. The Gothic-style Assembly Hall, constructed
from granite left over from the Temple, is the venue for concerts
and lectures. The two visitor centres, North and South, contain
religious murals and paintings, exhibits and presentations about
the Mormon faith, a film depicting the arrival of the first Mormon
pioneers in Salt Lake City, and photographs of the Temple
interior.
Hours of Operation: The North and South visitor centres are open daily
from 9am to 9pm. Choir rehearsals in the Tabernacle are on
Thursdays from 8pm to 9.30pm, and choir broadcasts are on Sundays
from 9.30am to 10am (last seating at 9.15am). Organ recitals take
place from Monday to Saturday between 12pm and 12.30pm, and on
Sunday from 2pm to 2.30pm. The Temple is closed to
non-Mormons
Phone:(801) 240 2534 (Temple Square Visitor Center) or (800)
537 9703 (concert schedule) |
2. Utah State Capitol
Capitol Hill, northern end of State Street
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What is it? Modelled after the national Capitol building
in Washington DC, the Utah State Capitol sits on a hill above the
city, a prominent sight surrounded by acres of beautifully
landscaped gardens. Memory Grove, to the east of the building,
contains statues honouring Utah veterans, and the grounds are a
favourite destination for joggers and walkers. The impressive
granite structure of the Capitol building is crowned by a copper
dome and fronted by columns, representing one of the greatest
examples of the Renaissance Revival style in the nation. A colossal
chandelier illuminates the interior walls that are covered with
murals illustrating Utah's history. Several busts proclaim the
state's prominent figures, including Brigham Young, leader of the
Mormon pioneers who founded Salt Lake City. Marble staircases lead
to the third floor where the Senate, House of Representatives, and
the Supreme Court of Utah are based. The state legislature meets in
January and February and visitors are welcome to sit in the
galleries overlooking their chamber. Visitors can choose to wander
through the building alone or join a guided
tour.
Hours of Operation: The building is currently under renovation until 2008
and is closed to the public, but ordinarily it is open Monday to
Saturday from 6am to 8pm (summer), rest of year 6am to 6pm. Guided
tours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm
Phone:(801) 538 3000 or (801) 538 1563 |
3. Pioneer Memorial Museum
300 North Main Street
www.dupinternational.org |
What is it? Devoted to objects connected with historical
events, the Pioneer Memorial Museum is crammed with photographs,
furniture, textiles, toys and a doll collection from the daily
lives of the pioneers that have been painstakingly collected by the
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. All four storeys are full of relics
of Utah's history, including personal effects of Mormon leader
Brigham Young. A short film is shown every half
hour.
Hours of Operation: Open from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5pm year
round, and from June to August also open on Sundays from 1pm to
5pm
Phone:(801) 538 1687 |
4. Great Salt Lake
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What is it? The huge shallow lake is the second saltiest
body of water in the world after the Dead Sea and is several times
saltier than the ocean and rich in minerals. Floating weightlessly
in the water of the Salt Lake is one of the main attractions, and
although this natural wonder is worth seeing, the facilities are
somewhat limited. The Great Salt Lake State Marina has a beach at
one end and boat launching ramps, but there are no boat rentals
available. Great Salt Lake has been declared a World Heritage Bird
Sanctuary due to the numbers of migrating birds that are attracted
to the brine flies and brine shrimp that survive in the saline
waters. Antelope Island is the largest of the lake's ten islands
and can be reached either by boat or by a causway, offering
excellent picknicking, hiking and camping opportunities. The island
also boasts a herd of about 600 American Bison, introduced in 1893,
and other interesting animals such as coyotes, bobcats, deer and a
small herd of elk. Early mornings along the shore of this vast
expanse of water can be extremely
beautiful.
Hours of Operation: The marina is open year round and the beach is open
daily from 8am to sunset
Phone:(801) 521 2822 (Salt Lake Visitor Information Center) or
(888) 777 9771 (Davis Area Convention and Visitors
Bureau) |
5. Dinosaur National Monument
www.nps.gov/dino |
What is it? The Dinosaur National Monument straddles the
border between Utah and Colorado. The reserve was created to
preserve the layers of rock in which Jurassic Era dinosaur
skeletons and bones were found embedded at a site in the Utah
section of the Monument area. In 1909 an exposed sediment riverbed
was discovered to contain layers of prehistoric plant and animal
fossils. A quarry went into operation on the site, where full
dinosaur skeletons as well as fossilised remains of sea creatures
up to three times older than dinosaurs were excavated. A visitor
centre has been built over the quarry to protect the fossils, and
forming one of the walls is the exposed rock layer containing over
2,000 dinosaur bones that has been enclosed as a permanent exhibit.
Replicas of dinosaurs and informative exhibits are also on display,
and visitors can see palaeontologists working on fossils in the
laboratory. Although the quarry is often the main reason for
visiting the Dinosaur National Monument, the area also contains
acres of some of the most beautifully rugged mountain scenery in
the north, with colourful sandstone cliffs, deep river canyons and
forests, along with a number of scenic hiking trails, unique
wildlife and thrilling whitewater rafting on two of the Colorado
River's fast-flowing tributaries.
Hours of Operation: The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is open daily 9am
to 6pm (summer) and Monday to Friday 8am and 4.30pm (winter),
closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. The park is open
from sunrise to sunset
Phone:(970) 374 3000 |
Salt Lake City Holidays guide
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Transport -The Utah Transit Authority provides
extensive public transport coverage in Salt Lake City by means of a
light rail system called TRAX, and an excellent bus service.
More information at the |
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