Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Salt Lake City (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Salt Lake Temple, LDS Conference Center, and Utah State Capitol. Also, be sure to include Rio Tinto Stadium in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Salt Lake City (Utah).
Table of Contents
Salt Lake Temple
Iconic, ornate Mormon temple. The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At 253,015 square feet, it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area. Dedicated in 1893, it is the sixth temple completed by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. The temple was closed in December 2019 for a general remodelling and seismic renovations that are anticipated to take approximately four years.[1]
Address: 50 W North Temple, 84150-9709 Salt Lake City
LDS Conference Center
Historical landmark in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Conference Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the premier meeting hall for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Completed in 2000, the 21,000-seat Conference Center replaced the traditional use of the nearby Salt Lake Tabernacle, built in 1868, for the church's biannual general conference and other major gatherings, devotionals, and events. It is believed to be the largest theater-style auditorium ever built.[2]
Address: 60 W North Temple, 84150-0800 Salt Lake City
Utah State Capitol
Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Utah State Capitol is the house of government for the U.S. state of Utah. The building houses the chambers and offices of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, the State Auditor and their staffs. The capitol is the main building of the Utah State Capitol Complex, which is located on Capitol Hill, overlooking downtown Salt Lake City.
The Neoclassical revival, Corinthian style building was designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting, and built between 1912 and 1916. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Beginning in 2004, the capitol underwent a major restoration and renovation project. The project added two new buildings to the complex while restoring many of the capitol's public spaces to their original appearance. One of the largest projects during the renovation was the addition of a base isolation system which will allow the building to survive as much as a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. After completion of the renovations, the building was rededicated and resumed normal operation in January 2008.[3]
Address: 350 N State St, 84114-4799 Salt Lake City
Rio Tinto Stadium
Soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah. Rio Tinto Stadium is an American soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah, that serves as home stadium for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. The stadium opened on October 9, 2008, and seats 20,213 for soccer, but can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts.
The stadium hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, the second leg of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals, and the final of the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was also a host stadium during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and a host for final stages of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The stadium hosted the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team Utah Royals FC during their three seasons of existence, from 2018 to 2020.
Rio Tinto's sponsorship of the stadium was set to expire in December of 2020 but retained its branding through 2021. Real Salt Lake is currently seeking a ten-year commitment from its next stadium naming rights partner.[4]
Address: Salt Lake City, 9256 South State Street
Salt Lake Tabernacle
Grand performance home to a famous choir. The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, in the U.S. state of Utah. The Tabernacle was built from 1863 to 1875 to house meetings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was the location of the church's semi-annual general conference until the meeting was moved to the new and larger LDS Conference Center in 2000. Now a historic building on Temple Square, the Salt Lake Tabernacle is still used for overflow crowds during general conference. It is renown for its remarkable acoustics. Tabernacle Choir has performed there for over 100 years.[5]
Address: 50 E North Temple, 84150-9001 Salt Lake City
Liberty Park
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Liberty Park is a popular public urban park in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the city's second-largest public park, at 80 acres, being surpassed only by Sugar House Park which has 110.5 acres. The park features a pond with two islands, and is also the location of Tracy Aviary. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it includes the Isaac Chase Mill, which is also NRHP-listed.
The park is prominently featured in all seasons of the Disney Channel original series Andi Mack, however, it is never mentioned by name.[6]
Address: 600 E 1300 S, 84105 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Memory Grove
Memory Grove, formerly known as Memory Park and sometimes called Memory Grove Park, is a park in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Established as a war memorial at the mouth of City Creek Canyon in 1924, the park "spawned a long tradition of support and involvement by private, civil, fraternal, military, and political organizations, and its evolution over the span of five generations reflects Utah's changing values along with her participation in world events", according to William G. Love of Utah Historical Quarterly.[7]
Address: 370 N Canyon Rd, 84103-2541 Salt Lake City
Temple Square
Historical landmark in Salt Lake City, Utah. Temple Square is a 10-acre complex, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square. Contained within Temple Square are the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors' centers. The square was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, recognizing the Mormon achievement in the settlement of Utah.[8]
Address: 50 W North Temple, 84150-9709 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Hogle Zoo
Exotic animals, a train and a carousel. Utah's Hogle Zoo is a 42-acre zoo located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It houses animals from diverse ecosystems. It is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. Hogle is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[9]
Address: 2600 E Sunnyside Ave, 84108-1454 Salt Lake City (East Bench)
City Creek Park
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. City Creek Park is a public park in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.[10]
Address: 110 N State St, 84103-2014 Salt Lake City
The Leonardo
Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Leonardo, located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States is a science and art museum where visitors can explore the ways that science, technology, art, and creativity connect. The museum opened its doors on October 8, 2011.
The educational philosophy of the museum is inspired by the Renaissance figure Leonardo da Vinci because of his willingness to follow his curiosity and his general belief that the arts and sciences were a part of the same enterprise. The museum is founded on the idea that Leonardo's approach is even more relevant today, as it has become harder to synthesize the incredible amount of information available to us in the modern age.
The Leonardo is run by a board of directors and an internal staff.[11]
Address: 209 E 500 S, 84111 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Church Office Building
Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church Office Building is a 28-story building in Salt Lake City, Utah, which houses the administrative support staff for the lay ministry of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world.
The building is 420 ft (128 m) tall at roof level and is located within the Temple Square complex on the corner of North Temple and State Street. From 1973 until 1998 the office building was the state's tallest structure.[12]
Address: 50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City
Olympic Legacy Plaza
Memorial park in Columbus, Georgia. Olympic Legacy Plaza is a public plaza in The Gateway shopping center in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.[13]
International Peace Gardens
Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah. The International Peace Gardens is a botanical garden located in Jordan Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Part of Utah's history, the garden was conceived in 1939 and dedicated in 1952. The International Peace Gardens has welcomed tens of thousands of travelers from every corner of the globe, including exchange partners from Salt Lake's several Sister Cities. The project was brought to fruition by Utah citizen Mrs. Otto (Ruey) Wiesley, working with the Salt Lake City Superintendent of Parks, the Mayor, and the Salt Lake Council of Women. Today, the garden remains under the direction of the Salt Lake Council of Women Past Presidents Council. Each participating Utah-based nation group is allotted a plot in which to create a garden with native plantings and garden architecture and statues of world peace leaders typical of the homeland and its culture. The Peace Gardens currently represents the cultural diversity of 28 gardens and encourages pleasant wandering and meditation by visitors.[14]
Address: 1060 S 900 W, 84104-1515 Salt Lake City (Westside)
Cathedral of the Madeleine
Ornate 1909 church with vibrant murals. The Cathedral of the Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was completed in 1909 and currently serves as the cathedral, or mother church, of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. It is the only cathedral in the U.S. under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene.[15]
Address: 331 E South Temple, 84111 Salt Lake City
Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a small public city park, located at 749 East 500 South in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The park, which is filled with unusual symbolic statuary associated with Mormonism, notably to the Sphinx with Joseph Smith's head, was a labor of love designed and created by LDS businessman Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. in his spare time. The park contains 12 original sculptures and over 70 stones engraved with scriptures, poems and literary texts. Gilgal Sculpture Garden is the only designated "visionary art environment" in the state of Utah.[16]
Address: 749 E 500 S, 84102-2905 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Beehive House
Historical landmark in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Beehive House was one of the official residences of Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Beehive House gets its name from the beehive sculpture atop the house. In 2020, the Beehive House and other historic sites on Temple Square were closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]
Address: 67 E South Temple, 84150-9701 Salt Lake City
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building, originally called the Hotel Utah, is a social center located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. It is named in honor of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. It houses three restaurants: The Roof Restaurant, The Garden Restaurant and The Nauvoo Cafe, and is also a venue for events complete with 13 banquet rooms, catering services, event coordinators and a full-service floral department. Several levels of the building also serve as administrative offices for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints departments such as FamilySearch. On January 3, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Hotel Utah.[18]
Address: 15 E S Temple, 84150 Salt Lake City
This Is The Place Heritage Park
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the Place Heritage Park is a Utah State Park that is located on the east side of Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, at the foot of the Wasatch Range and near the mouth of Emigration Canyon. A non-profit foundation manages the park.[19]
Address: 2601 E Sunnyside Ave, 84108-1453 Salt Lake City (East Bench)
Seagull Monument
Monument in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Seagull Monument is a small monument situated immediately in front of the Salt Lake Assembly Hall on Temple Square, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Monument commemorates what some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call the miracle of the gulls.[20]
Salt Lake Assembly Hall
Building. The Salt Lake Assembly Hall is a building owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which sits on the southwest corner of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has seating capacity for an audience of approximately 1,400 people.[21]
Address: 50 E North Temple, 84150 Salt Lake City
Pioneer Park
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pioneer Park is a public park in Salt Lake City's Rio Grande neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Utah. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Old Pioneer Fort Site.
Features include basketball and tennis courts, a dog park, a playground, and a multipurpose field. Pioneer Park also hosts the Downtown Farmers Market.[22]
Address: 350 W Broadway, 84101-1702 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, formerly known as the Salt Lake Art Center, is a contemporary art museum. Located in Downtown Salt Lake City, the museum presents rotating exhibitions by local, national and international contemporary artists throughout its six gallery spaces.[23]
Address: 20 S West Temple, 84101-1406 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Salt Lake City and County Building
City or town hall in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake City and County Building, usually called the "City-County Building", is the seat of government for Salt Lake City, Utah. The historic landmark formerly housed offices for Salt Lake County government as well, hence the name.[24]
Address: 451 S State St, 84111 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)
Meditation Chapel
Historical landmark in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Meditation Chapel is located in Salt Lake City's Memory Grove, in the U.S. state of Utah. The structure was built by Mr. and Mrs. Ross Beason in 1948 to commemorate their son and others killed during World War II. It is made of Georgian marble, a copper roof, and bronze doors. The Memory Grove Foundation restored the chapel's stained glass windows, earning the group a Utah Heritage Foundation Heritage Award in 1999.[25]
Church History Museum
Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church History Museum, formerly the Museum of Church History and Art, is the premier museum operated by the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is opposite the west gates of the church's Temple Square.
The museum has collections of art, artifacts, documents, photographs, tools, clothing and furniture from the almost two-century history of the LDS Church. Outside of the curators, administrative, and other staff, a large volunteer workforce of Latter-day Saints from the surrounding communities conduct tours of the museum's exhibits and put on many of the museum programs. The Church History Museum is open six days a week and admission is free.[26]
Address: 45 N West Temple, 84150-9006 Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City Council Hall
Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake City Council Hall is currently home to offices of the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Film Commission and is located on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah. Built in 1864-66, the building is historically important as the Old Salt Lake City Hall or just Old City Hall from 1866 to 1894. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, as an emblem of the conflicts between the governments of the Utah Territory and the United States in the 19th century.[27]
Address: 300 N State St, 84114-0002 Salt Lake City
Cecret Lake
Alpine lake in Utah. Cecret Lake is a small alpine lake in Albion Basin which is within the town limits of Alta in the U.S. state of Utah. This area is also part of the Wasatch National Forest. Cecret Lake is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake City. The United States Geological Survey officially spells the name of this lake as "Cecret Lake".
The lake can be accessed in the summer by parking on the main road in Little Cottonwood Canyon and hiking up a dirt trail to the lake. The lake is surrounded by quartz monzonite, commonly mistaken for granite rock. Cecret Lake is also surrounded by the Alta and Snowbird ski resorts.
Cecret Lake is considered a watershed area which supplies drinking water for Salt Lake City metropolitan area. This drinking water comes from several hundred inches of snow each year that lasts into July.[28]
Ensign Peak
Hill in Utah. Ensign Peak is a peak in the foothills near downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is approximately one mile north of the Utah State Capitol and sits almost directly behind it. On July 26, 1847, Brigham Young and other early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints climbed this hill and gave the peak its present name. The hill has religious significance in LDS Church history and in its symbolism. Ensign Peak Advisors is an investment manager for assets of the LDS Church and is named after Ensign Peak.[29]
Address: 1002 N Ensign Vista Dr, Salt Lake City
Draper Utah Temple
Temple in Draper, Utah. The Draper Utah Temple is the 129th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was dedicated in sessions from March 20–22, 2009. Prior to the dedication, the temple was open to the public from January 15, 2009 through March 14, 2009.[30]
Address: 14065 S Canyon Vista Ln, 84020 Draper (Draper)
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Botanical garden in Salt Lake City, Utah. Red Butte Garden and Arboretum consists of a botanical garden, arboretum, and amphitheatre operated by the University of Utah, in the foothills of the Wasatch Range in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is open year-round to the public. Red Butte Garden contains over 100 acres of botanical gardens and several miles of hiking trails through native vegetation. Red Butte Creek runs within the northern part of the garden.[31]
Address: 300 S Wakara Way, 84108-1214 Salt Lake City (East Bench)
First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City
The First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City is a Presbyterian Church congregation in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was founded in 1871. From 1874-1905 the church met in a building at the corner of Second South and Second East, which has since been demolished. The current red sandstone building was constructed from 1903-1905.
The current church building is in the Gothic Revival style and was designed by architect Walter E. Ware. The design was patterned after Carlisle Cathedral in Carlisle, England. The exterior was built of red sandstone quarried from Red Butte Canyon. The stained glass windows were created by R. T. Giles and Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The original organ was built by the Bennett Organ Company of Rock Island, IL and dedicated in a 1906 concert featuring renowned organist Clarence Eddy.
The current building was first occupied in 1905, the congregation substantially enlarged, renovated, and modernized it in 1956. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is also Entry No. 323 on the American Presbyterian/Reformed Historic Sites Registry. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as a contributing building in the South Temple Historic District.
In 1875, Professor John M. Coyner founded The Collegiate Institute, a college preparatory program which met in the basement of the old church building at Second South and Second East. The institute later grew to become Westminster College.[32]
Address: 12 C Street, Salt Lake City
Vivint Arena
Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vivint Arena, formerly EnergySolutions Arena or the Delta Center, is an indoor arena located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arena serves as the home venue for the National Basketball Association 's Utah Jazz, and has been the home venue for other professional athletic teams, such as the Arena Football League's Utah Blaze and the Women's National Basketball Association 's Utah Starzz. It seats 18,306 for basketball, has 56 luxury suites, and 668 club seats.
Opened in 1991, the arena was known as the Delta Center, under a naming rights deal with Delta Air Lines, which has a hub at Salt Lake City International Airport. Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions purchased the naming rights in November 2006, after Delta decided not to renew their 15-year contract due to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the year prior. From 2006 to 2015, it was known as EnergySolutions Arena. On October 26, 2015, the arena was renamed as part of a 10-year naming rights contract with the Provo-based home security system provider Vivint. In August 2020, the arena dropped the “Smart Home” title to become Vivint Arena.
The arena was also home to the figure skating and short track speed skating competitions of the 2002 Winter Olympics, where it was referred to as the Salt Lake Ice Center.[33]
145th Field Artillery Monument
145th Field Artillery Monument is a memorial in Salt Lake City's Memory Grove, in the U.S. state of Utah. Dedicated in 1927, the monument was erected by the 145th Field Artillery and has a gray granite shaft and circular bench. The bas-relief sculpture depicts horses and men. The memorial once featured a sundial.[34]
Smith's Ballpark
Ballpark in Salt Lake City, Utah. Smith's Ballpark is a minor league baseball park in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the home field of the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League and the collegiate Utah Utes of the Pac-12 Conference.[35]
Address: 77 W 1300 S, 84115-5325 Salt Lake City (Central Salt Lake City)