Temple Square
Temple Square | |
Salt Lake City, Utah | |
Coordinates | 40°46′14″N 111°53′33″W / 40.77056°N 111.89250°W |
---|---|
Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
Built | 1853 |
NRHP reference No. | 66000738[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Designated NHLD | January 29, 1964[2] |
Temple Square is a 10-acre (4.0 ha) complex, owned by
History
In 1847, when
The square also became the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other buildings were built on the plot, including a
As the church has grown, its headquarters have expanded into the surrounding area. In 1917, an
In 2020, many of the buildings on and around Temple Square were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 4-year renovation project.[6][7]
Modern usage
Tourism
Attracting an estimate of 5-plus million visitors a year, Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Utah. The LDS Church does not provide exact statistical data on the number of visits to Temple Square, but visitation is estimated to similar to that of the
General Conference
Lighting
The grounds, as well as
Other uses
The multiple gates to Temple Square are popular places for critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—mainly former members and activist evangelical ministers—to
Street directions
Temple Square serves as the center point for all street addresses in Salt Lake City. The streets in Salt Lake follow a grid pattern which deviate out from the southeast corner of Temple Square.
Sites
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of the Church's operating
North and South Visitors' Centers
Beginning in 1963, two visitors' centers, called the North Visitors' Center and the South Visitors' Center, were constructed on temple square.
On April 19, 2019, church leaders announced that the South Visitors' Center will be demolished as part of a massive renovation project that will begin December 29, 2019. Two smaller visitors' pavilions will take its place.[14] On June 10, 2021, it was announced that the North Visitors' Center would be demolished as well. It will be replaced by a garden designed as contemplative space.[15]
Conference and assembly buildings
There are three large assembly buildings housed on Temple Square. The smallest of the three is the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, which seats approximately 2,000 and is on the southwest corner of Temple Square. The Assembly Hall is a
The second structure is the
The largest and most recently built assembly building is the
Museums and libraries
Family History Library
On the block west of Temple Square, the Family History Library is the largest genealogical library in the world and is open to the general public at no charge.
Church History Museum
On the block west of Temple Square adjacent to the Family History Library, the Church History Museum houses collections of Latter-day Saint art and artifacts.[19] The Museum houses permanent exhibits as well as playing host to temporary exhibits throughout the year. Past exhibits have included the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, featuring 23 paintings by Norman Rockwell; displays and artwork from artist Arnold Friberg; and themed historical displays depicting church events.[20]
Church History Library
On the block northeast of Temple Square and east of the Conference Center is the Church History Library, where the historical records of the Church are stored. The Library is free to patrons, who can come use a large collection of books, manuscripts, and photographs. Senior missionaries provide tours of the public areas of the Library. Patrons can also view a video explaining the mission and purpose of the Library.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Utah
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Salt Lake City
- Nauvoo Bell
References
- ^ "National Register Information System – (#66000738)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Temple Square". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
- ^ "NHL nomination for Temple Square". National Park Service. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Buildings on the Temple Block Preceding the Tabernacle | Religious Studies Center".
- ^ Quoted in Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Salt Lake Temple", Ensign, March 1993, p. 2.
- ^ Harkins, Paighten. "LDS Church closes Temple Square, other downtown attractions, because of coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 March 2020. Retrieved on 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Plans Unveiled for Salt Lake Temple Renovation". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. April 19, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- ^ "National Reports". irma.nps.gov. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Michael De Groote, "Decades of downtown S.L. music and lights", Deseret News, December 12, 2010.
- ^ The LDS Church has 350 temples in various phases, which includes 189 dedicated temples (with 183 operating and 6 previously-dedicated, but closed for renovation), 52 under construction, and 109 others announced (not yet under construction).
- ^ "The North Visitors' Center on Temple Square Will Be Replaced". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. June 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ Phares, Chad, E. (February 2010). "A Year on Temple Square The North Visitors' Center".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Law, Kristina (2006). "Sister Missionaries". Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2006.
- ^ "Plans Unveiled for Salt Lake Temple Renovation". Mormon Newsroom. April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ Toone, Trent (June 10, 2021). "What will replace Temple Square's North Visitors' Center and why?". Deseret News. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Assembly Hall.
- ^ Conference Center.
- ^ AAG International Research. "AAG International Research". AAG International Research. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
- ^ McFall, Michael. "A 'tour' of the new Church History Museum before it reopens", The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 October 2014. Retrieved on 16 March 2020.
- ^ Burke, Leann. "Church History Museum exhibits celebrate 100 years of Scouting", The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 July 2013. Retrieved on 16 March 2020.
Further reading
- Hamilton, C. Mark (1994), "Temple Square", in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: OCLC 30473917, archived from the originalon April 11, 2013
- Springer, Carly M. (May 23, 2014), "40 Things You Didn't Know about Temple Square", Deseret Books
- KSL News: LDS Main Street Plaza Controversy
External links
- Media related to Temple Square at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Official Site – Temple Square
- Panoramic View of Temple Square at Sunset
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. UT-36, "Great Salt Lake Base & Meridian, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT", 1 photo, 2 data pages, 1 photo caption page