History · Salt Lake City · United States
7 historic sites to see in Salt Lake City
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: An Errant Knight, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Temple Square, FamilySearch Library and Utah State Capitol. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 9–14 hours across 3 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 9–14 hours
- Areas
- Downtown, Capitol Hill and Marmalade and University and East Bench
Historic sites in Salt Lake City
Religious site · Downtown
1.Temple Square
The temple itself is open only to church members; the grounds and other buildings are free to visit, though parts of the square have been affected by a long-running temple renovation.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Downtown
2.FamilySearch Library
Interactive discovery exhibits on the main floor suit casual visitors in under an hour.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Architecture · Capitol Hill and Marmalade
3.Utah State Capitol
Inside, murals depict Utah history, and the building has been retrofitted to sit on base isolators that protect it in earthquakes. Free guided tours are offered on weekdays.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · University and East Bench
4.Natural History Museum of Utah
Other galleries cover the Great Salt Lake, Native peoples and gems, and the terraces overlook the whole valley.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Historic site · University and East Bench
5.This Is the Place Heritage Park
At the mouth of Emigration Canyon, where Brigham Young is said to have declared the valley the place to settle in 1847, a monument and a re-created pioneer village of original and replica buildings show 19th-century life, with costumed interpreters, crafts and a small train.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Capitol Hill and Marmalade
6.Ensign Peak
The view takes in downtown, the Great Salt Lake and the Oquirrh Mountains.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Downtown
7.Beehive House
Free guided tours by church volunteers explain pioneer family life and the founding of the city.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Temple Square, FamilySearch Library and Beehive House | 1.5–2 hours + 1–3 hours + 45 minutes |
| Capitol Hill and Marmalade | Utah State Capitol and Ensign Peak | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| University and East Bench | Natural History Museum of Utah and This Is the Place Heritage Park | 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 5 free, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is FamilySearch Library; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Downtown): Temple Square → FamilySearch Library → Beehive House, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Capitol Hill and Marmalade and University and East Bench): Utah State Capitol → Ensign Peak → Natural History Museum of Utah, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (University and East Bench): This Is the Place Heritage Park, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Quiet between seasons; ski resorts usually begin opening late in the month, snow permitting.
- September: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm days and cooler nights; canyon aspens begin to turn late in the month.
- October: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. Crisp, sunny weather and autumn colour in the canyons; General Conference returns early in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown — Temple Square, convention hotels and City Creek Center on a wide-street grid
- The Avenues — Victorian houses climbing the foothills north-east of downtown
- Capitol Hill and Marmalade — Pioneer-era cottages around the domed State Capitol
- University and East Bench — University of Utah campus and foothill museums with valley views
More of Salt Lake City
All things to do in Salt Lake City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Salt Lake City?
Temple Square. The 4-hectare headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the granite Salt Lake Temple, completed in 1893, the domed Tabernacle with its famous organ, visitors' exhibits and gardens.
+Which of these are free in Salt Lake City?
Temple Square, FamilySearch Library, Utah State Capitol, Ensign Peak and Beehive House.