Mormon Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City (HABS UTAH,18-SALCI,2-)

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Although over 100 years old, it is still the largest indoor auditorium in Utah, the major gathering space for conferences of the LDS (Mormon) Church on Temple Square. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Originally built and still owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 2. Date of erection: Completed October, Dedicated October 9, 3. Architect: Henry Grow, under Church architect, William H. Folsom k. Builder, suppliers, etc.: Henry Grow, builder, Joseph Harris Ridges, organ designer & builder, Joseph A. Young (son of Brigham) supplied lumber. Assistants to Ridges on organ construction: Shure Olsen, Niels Johnson, Henry Taylor, Frank Wood (& others). 5. Alterations and additions: Balcony added in Organ remodeled by Miels Johnson. Organ enlarged by W. W.

Kimball Co., Chicago. Organ overhauled, 15 foot wings added, hy Austin Organ Co. of Hartford, Conn. Electric lighting, steam heat added. Copper roof applied about over wood shingle roof. Aluminum roof installed by Jed L. Ashton (Overly Co.) Many changes to podium and platforms. SALT LAKE TABEEWACLE HABS Ifo. 36-U-2 (Page ft q B. Historical Events and Persons Associated with the Building; This famed building, the home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was a marvel of its time. It replaced the old tabernacle vhich was also located on the Temple grounds in Salt Lake City, in the southwest corner. Construction began in and continued until its dedication in The building, whose tortoise shape was reportedly suggested by Brigham Young, is 250 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 80 feet high.

The roof rests on red sandstone piers, 10 to 12 feet apart. Although the proposed specifications for the building were announced by Church Architect, William H. Folsom, and the roof structure was designed by Henry Grow, the actual credit for the building design is still disputed. The Tabernacle was originally intended for religious purposes exclusively, but as the need for a large auditorium for secu- lar functions became apparent, the structure began to serve both activities.

The first major personality to appear in the Tabernacle was Adelina Patti, on April 1, She was fol- lowed by such performers as Nellie Melba, Ernestine Schumann- Heink, Lili Pons, Ignace Jan Paderewski, Lauritz Melchior, Lawrence Tibbett, John Charles Thomas, Nino Martini, Richard Crooks, John Philip Sousa, Fritz Kreisler, Vladimir Horowitz, Rise Stevens, Igor Gorin, Arthur Rubenstein, lehudi Menuhin, Marian Anderson, and many others, including noted lecturers and world personalities such as Shirley Temple and Helen Keller. All Presidents since with the exception of Calvin Coolidge, have spoken here, as have most of the major presidential candidates. C. Sources of Information:

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,18-SALCI,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Deseret Mews, Salt Lake City; June 3, July 6, April 2, 188U; February 15, The Improvement Era, April Salt Lake City. Journal of Discourses, - Vol. X, p. Library, Church Office Building, Salt Lake City. Mitchell, Robert C. Desert Tortoise, The Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square, Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 35s No. H, Fall, Utah State Historical Society, Salt Lake City. Salt Lake Tribune; Salt Lake City; January 17, May 5, Young, Levi Edgar, The Mormon Tabernacle with^ its World Famed Organ & Organ, Salt Lake City, Prepared by John L.

C-iusti, AIA September l6, ADDENDUM TO: HABS UT-36-2 MORMON TABERNACLE UTAH, 18-SALCI,2- (Salt Lake Tabernacle) Temple Square Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah PAPER COPIES OF COLOR TRANSPARENCIES HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C Street NW Washington, DC