Temple Square, Salt Lake City

History

Brigham Young himself chose the spot for the Mormon temple built in Salt Lake City in 1847. The area surrounding the temple came to be known as Temple Square. The ten-acre campus contains several historical buildings that are important to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints faith, including the tabernacle, the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, and the temple itself.

Today, Temple Square serves as the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints with many of the organizational head offices located here. Temple Square attracts three to five million visitors per year, making it the top tourist destination in the entire state of Utah.

Popular Things to Do

Trace your roots. The Family History Library at Temple Square is the biggest genealogy resource in the world with records from over 100 countries. The library is free of charge.

Get historical perspective. Tour the famous 1850s Beehive House that Brigham Young lived in as he served as church president. Visit the Church History Museum to see artifacts and significant artwork from the church's early history. Watch a free movie about Brigham Young at the Legacy Theater.

Enjoy yourself. Tour the manicured grounds of over 700 plant varieties of plants at Temple Square for a sensual botanical delight. Indulge in a romantic horse carriage ride through the square. Take in a tabernacle rehearsal or free open-air concert during the summer months.

Nearby Restaurants

The Roof Restaurant puts you at eye-level of the top of the temple, with an amazing view of Temple Square. This exquisite restaurant serves dinner only and the chef presents his fine cuisine buffet-style. Be sure to save some of your appetite for the dessert buffet after your meal.

The Garden also offers great views at ten stories up, with a retractable roof that transforms the space into an open-air dining hall on great weather days. The Garden offers both a lunch and dinner menu that includes delicious moderately-priced fare.

The Nauvoo Café offers reasonably-priced quick bites to eat, including fresh baked muffin tops for breakfast, hot sandwiches prepared from carved, roasted meats for lunch, and pot pies for dinner.

The Lion House Pantry is located inside the Brigham Young residence, and you can dine inside or outdoors on a sunny terrace. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and the onsite bakery makes fresh breads and pastries.

Nearby Hotels

Salt Lake City grew around Temple Square, so the square is surrounded by hotels. The Salt Palace Convention Center is located directly south of the temple, as is the Salt Lake City Plaza Hotel, Salt Lake City Downtown Marriott, Radisson Salt Lake Downtown, and the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, all within walking distance to Temple Square.

Within a mile of the temple, you'll find a huge variety of accommodations, including quaint B&Bs, reasonably-priced motels, a hostel, and the luxury downtown Sheraton Hotel.

Learn about some of the other great things to do in Salt Lake City.