Temple Square: The historic heart of Salt Lake City

Welcome to Temple Square, the 10-acre complex in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah. Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a notable religious complex that has been a hub of Mormon activity since 1847. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square. Here, you’ll find the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, Seagull Monument, and two visitors’ centers. Temple Square was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, recognizing the Mormon achievement in settling Utah.

Originally referred to as Temple Block, Brigham Young, the church’s president at the time, selected the initial plot of the desert ground for a temple. When the city was surveyed, the block enclosing that location was designated for the temple and became known as Temple Square. Soon after the block was designated, a 15-foot wall was built around the complex.

The Salt Lake Tabernacle, home to the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and seating 8,000 people, was built in 1867. Another building, the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, was later constructed, accommodating a congregation of 2,000. Over the years, several buildings have been demolished and new ones have risen. In 2000, the church purchased the section of Main Street between the block east of the temple and Temple Square and connected the two blocks with a plaza called the Main Street Plaza. In April 2019, a massive renovation project was announced, planning to demolish the South Visitors’ Center and replace it with two smaller visitors’ pavilions. The North Visitors’ Center was also slated for demolition and replacement with a garden designed as contemplative space.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many buildings on and around Temple Square were closed for a time due to a multi-year renovation project, but it continues to attract an estimated 5-plus million visitors every year, making it a popular tourist destination, similar to that of the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park. The Gardens at Temple Square often host concerts and other events, and during the Christmas holiday season, approximately 100,000 Christmas lights sparkle from trees and shrubs around Temple Square each evening until 10 pm.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons