Things to do nearUtah State Capitol

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Completed in 1916 after nearly a decade of construction, the Utah State Capitol was designed by architect Richard Kletting in the Corinthian Neoclassical style that was fashionable for civic buildings of that era. The exterior is clad in Utah granite quarried from nearby Little Cottonwood Canyon, the same source used for the Salt Lake Temple, giving the building a distinctly regional character despite its classical form.

Inside, visitors move through spaces layered with historical detail. The rotunda rises 165 feet from floor to dome, and the murals encircling it depict scenes from Utah's history including the arrival of pioneer settlers and the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit. The legislative chambers, open to the public when not in session, feature original woodwork and stained glass that survived the building's extensive seismic renovation in the mid-2000s, a project that also placed the entire structure on base isolators to protect it from earthquakes.

The grounds surrounding the Utah State Capitol are a destination in their own right. Formal gardens, reflecting pools, and monuments to Utah veterans and historical figures line the terraced hillside, and the Capitol's elevated position means the panoramic view of Salt Lake City and the valley below is among the best available without a hike.

For anyone interested in architecture, civic history, or simply the texture of a working state government, the Utah State Capitol offers a rare combination of beauty and substance that few public buildings can match.