Statehood was achieved in 1896; it was the 45th stated admitted. Utah was the last state admitted in the Nineteenth century.
Following the assassination of Joseph Smith Jr. in Illionis, the Mormons and other Illini were unable to live peacefully. Brigham Young led the first band of Mormons to Salt Lake Valley in July, 1847. Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah.
Utah was initially a Mexican territory; after the Mexican-American War, Utah became an United States Territory. The polygamous practices of Mormons was a hinderance of the territory becoming a state. In 1890 the Church of Latter Day Saints banned polygamy for Mormons. When Utah applied for statehood again, it was accepted.
Fillmore was initially the Utah capital. Shortly after statehood it was moved to Salt Lake City. The construction on the Capitol began in 1912 and completed in 1916. In 2004 the capitol closed for an extensive restoration and seismic upgrade. The capitol was rededicated on January 4, 2008. (My visit was in Dec., 2007.)
In 1846, 500 enlistees from the Mormon settlements in Council Bluffs, Iowa, marched 2,000 miles to fight in the Mexican conflict. By the time they reached the Mexican border in the summer, the conflict had been resolved, some members of the Battalion went on to California and helped start Sutter's Mill (where the gold rush began). The salary they received from their enlistment helped outfit Mormon families for their westward journey. In addition, those who served in the Mormon Battalion felt that they had proved their allegiance to the U.S. government by marching to serve in the Mexican conflict.
On the East side of the Capitol, this view in a canyon was found. The canyon floor is the location of Memory Grove Park:
A beautiful oasis situated on the foothills of Salt Lake City, Memory Grove Park celebrates the lives of Utah veterans who died during World War I, World War II and Vietnam.
This is the newest monument on the grounds. It commemorates the Utah natives who died serving in the Vietnam War, and is located on the west grounds. The statue was sculpted by Mark Davinport of American Fork. The sculpture has 388 names on the plaque. A bronze statue of a soldier by sculptor Mark Davenport is surrounded by sculptor Clide Ross Morgan's circular wall, portions of which contain names of Utahns killed during the Vietnam War. Only five states in the country sent more soldiers than did Utah.
Plaque reads:
THE CONSTITUTION REVERED "I want to say to every man, the Constitution of the United States, as framed by our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, was put into their hearts by the Almighty who dwells in the heavens; and I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ it is as good as ever I could ask for. I say unto you, magnify the laws. There is no law in the United States, or in the Constitution, but I am ready to make honorable." From Brigham Young's farewell address to the Mormon Battalion, July 1846, at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Plaque reads:
UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR This monument honors the Utah men who answered the call to protect the mail and telegraph lines along the continental route during the Civil War. April 25, 1862 Acting Governor of Utah, Frank Fuller, called for volunteers from the Nauvoo Legion. The next day twenty-four men under Col. Robert T. Burton left for the assignment. Two days later Brigham Young received an authorization from President Abraham Lincoln, through Secretary of War Stanton, for a company of cavalry to serve ninety days protecting the same route. One hundred and six men responded for duty under Captain Lot Smith. Later some Utah men joined the 3rd Regiment, California Volunteers, stationed at Fort Douglas, October, 1862-July 1866. Other pioneers served in the Civil War before coming to Utah.
This view of Ensign Peak was taken from the west side of the Capitol.
Ensign Peak is a prominent hill on the northern edge of the Salt Lake Valley. On July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the hill to survey the valley. From its summit they laid out in their minds the city they intended to build.
Plaque reads:
LEST WE FORGET From 1847 to 1869 approximately 86,000 persons, mainly converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, left their established homes to build anew in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. About 6,000 were buried along the way. Hilda Anderson Erickson, last known surviving Utah pioneer, died Jan. 1, 1968, age 108, thus ending an illustrious era. Other late survivors were: Tora Nielsen J. Starkie, 1961; Minnie Peterson Brown, Selina Beddous Kelsey, Harriet Paris Smith Clawson, 1962; Heber Charles Cox, 1963. They were representative of the thousands of western pioneers who left to posterity a rich heritage of faith, fortitude, leadership and vision.
This museum is located across the street, slightly south and west, of the Capitol.
The Pioneer Memorial Museum is noted as the world's largest collection of artifacts on one particular subject, and features displays and collections of memorabilia from the time the earliest settlers entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake until the joining of the railroads at a location known as Promontory Point, Utah, on May 10, 1869.
This hall, currently home to offices for the Utah Office of Tourism and The Utah Film Commission on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah. The building is historically important as the Old Salt Lake City Hall from 1866 to 1894. During this time it was also meeting place for the Utah Territorial legislature.
In 1961 to make way for a federal office building downtown, this building was relocated to Capitol Hill.
This LDS chapel was one of the first examples of Gothic Revival churches in the area to feature a steeple tower. Originally it was located on Second Avenue, but it was dismantled and reconstructed on Capitol Hill in 1980. The inside has been completely restored and is now owned by the state and used for nondenominational functions.
I thought it was a nice tree and took a picture of it.
