Preservation News in Utah
Stay informed with the latest preservation stories from across the state. This page features a regularly updated collection of news articles highlighting efforts to protect, restore, and celebrate Utah’s historic places—from small-town landmarks to urban architectural icons.
‘Deseret Voices’ Episode 31 — The Salt Lake Temple: Opening its doors to the world
May 14, 2026
Salt Lake County
In the latest episode of the Deseret Voices podcast, Andy Kirby, director of historic temple renovations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Church History Department managing director Matt Grow discuss the extensive renovation and seismic retrofit of the Salt Lake Temple, which has been closed since December 2019 and will open for a rare public open house from April to October 2027. Kirby describes the project's core preservation philosophy, guided by Historic Structures Reports, period photographs, and salvaged materials, alongside the mandate from church leaders to double the temple's capacity, expand accessibility for people with disabilities, and add support for ordinances in 80 languages. The seismic upgrade, which Kirby calls the largest single scope on the project, was informed by sensor data collected during the March 2020 earthquake that damaged the Angel Moroni's trumpet. Artifacts removed during construction, including sections of original murals and stone tools, will be featured in an exhibit at the Church History Museum timed to the 2027 open house.
KSL's Mini 5: Territorial Statehouse State Park
May 13, 2026
Millard County
The Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum in Fillmore, Utah's first territorial capital before the seat of government moved to Salt Lake City in 1856, is drawing renewed attention thanks to the social media efforts of park manager Carl Aldrich, whose videos promoting the site have reached tens of thousands of viewers and noticeably increased foot traffic. The building, now operated by Utah State Parks, houses pioneer artifacts, a printing press connected to the early Deseret News, original construction tools, historic photographs of Fillmore residents, and the legislative hall where Brigham Young once addressed Utah's territorial leaders. Surrounding the museum is a full park with picnic areas, a gazebo, and event space that serves as a hub for community gatherings throughout the year. Aldrich notes that many I-15 travelers pass within three minutes of the site without realizing it exists, and he hopes more will make the stop.
Gone but not forgotten: Lehi to honor historic tabernacle
May 13, 2026
Utah County
The Lehi Historical Society will unveil a historical marker for the Lehi Tabernacle on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. at 200 N. Center St., where the beloved building once stood before its demolition in 1962. Designed by Richard Kletting, who later designed the Utah State Capitol, and built largely through donated labor, the tabernacle took nearly a decade to complete after its 1901 cornerstone laying and was dedicated in 1910. Over the following decades, it served as a school auditorium, National Guard armory, civic hall, and site of concerts, graduations, and community gatherings before aging infrastructure led to its controversial demolition. The program will include remarks from LDS Church historian Brian Warburton, memories shared by longtime Lehi Free Press writer Donna Barnes, and performances by the Lehi Silver Band and the Lehi Community Choir. The tabernacle marker is the latest installment in the Lehi Historical Marker Program, which aims to place 36 markers throughout the city.
Revitalizing the past, building the future: Logan's downtown transformation
May 13, 2026
Cache County
A sponsored feature from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office profiles the Logan Downtown Alliance's path to becoming the first Utah community to earn both state and national Main Street accreditation, a milestone announced during Historic Preservation Month. The piece highlights how the Alliance has used the Main Street four-point approach — economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization — to balance historic preservation with economic growth since 2003, with projects ranging from adaptive reuse of the midcentury Sinclair building on Center Street to the 2023 Carol and Jim Laub Plaza. Utah Main Street, housed within the State Historic Preservation Office and re-established in 2021, now supports 22 active local communities statewide, with 14 nationally designated programs including Logan's accredited program and 13 affiliate communities from Brigham City to Vernal. In 2025, Main Street America programs nationally generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment and rehabilitated more than 10,600 historic buildings.
University of Utah wins Rehabilitation and Restoration Award
May 12, 2026
Salt Lake County
The University of Utah has shared details of its Preservation Utah Rehabilitation and Restoration Award for the full restoration of three 1891 Army cottages at Fort Douglas — Buildings 661, 662, and 663 along Connor Road — which originally housed the Quartermaster, Ordnance, and Commissary Sergeants responsible for fort supplies and daily operations. A 2020 windstorm that damaged exterior siding set the project in motion, ultimately growing into a comprehensive restoration that recovered lost Victorian details including curved shingle transitions, corbels, wood trim, and all three porches, guided by salvaged materials and photographs dating to 1900. Original aluminum windows from the 1970s were replaced to match the historic style, and exterior paint colors were restored from traces found on the buildings themselves. The project also incorporated modern structural, seismic, and energy upgrades. All three cottages will be available for rent to University faculty, staff, and post-doctoral researchers beginning June 1.
One Utah city is revamping its downtown core in hopes of revival
May 11, 2026
Salt Lake County
Midvale's historic Main Street, once a major economic hub of the Salt Lake Valley in the 1950s before interstate construction cut off traffic and drove businesses out, is undergoing a full revitalization led by the Midvale Redevelopment Agency. The effort has drawn new locally oriented businesses into historic storefronts, including Cactus and Tropicals, which opened in the former Vincent Drug building — familiar to many as a filming location for the 1993 film "The Sandlot" and intentionally preserved original historic features in its buildout. The agency is funding improvements through tax increment financing and has won an APA Utah Beehive Award of Excellence for its Main Street plan. While property owners once struggled to attract tenants, businesses are now approaching the city seeking available space.
Park City declares May Historic Preservation Month, honors mining restoration efforts
May 8, 2026
Summit County
Park City's City Council officially declared May 2026 Historic Preservation Month during its Thursday meeting and presented Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History with the Cindy Matsumoto Historic Preservation Award for the restoration of the Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building. The annual award, established in 2011 in honor of a former Park City councilmember, recognizes exceptional preservation work within the city's Historic District, with each winning project commemorated through artwork displayed in City Hall. Utah artist Rebecca Pletsch completed an oil painting of the Silver King building for that purpose. Committee co-chair Donald Roll credited the city's sustained support, including a $200,000 restaurant tax grant, as essential to completing what he called far and away the largest project the group has ever undertaken. Since 2016, Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History has helped stabilize and restore 14 historic mining structures across Park City, including the Daly West headframe near Deer Valley and the Alliance Mine Watchman's Cabin in Empire Canyon.
Preserved 100-year time capsule reveals Salt Lake church’s resilience
May 8, 2026
Salt Lake County
A 100-year-old time capsule was successfully extracted in August 2025 from behind the cornerstone of the historic Japanese Church of Christ at 268 West 100 South in downtown Salt Lake City, where it had sat encased in concrete since the building was constructed in 1924. Facility manager Alan Shino led the recovery effort, and was struck by the remarkable condition of the small, trapezoid-shaped metal box — the screws came out as cleanly as the day they were placed. The capsule was taken to Special Collections at the J. Willard Marriott Library, where staff opened it and found minimal leakage despite more than a century in the wall. The contents of the capsule will be featured in an upcoming segment. The church, one of only two surviving structures from Salt Lake City's historic Japantown, has been the subject of renewed public attention this spring during Historic Preservation Month.
“Small Town, Big Roots”: Tremonton pursues Main Street America
May 8, 2026
Box Elder County
Tremonton has formally applied to join Main Street America, a preservation-based economic development program administered in Utah through the State Historic Preservation Office, with applications for the current cycle closing May 15. Leading the effort is Kelly Wood, director of the city's Main Street Committee, who said the program's four-focus-area framework, economic vitality, organization, promotion, and design, offers exactly the kind of established model Tremonton needs to restore activity and identity to its downtown corridor. Downtown Tremonton is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Wood noted that previous planning studies have given the city a head start that most applicants lack. If approved, Tremonton would begin participating in July, with early projects including new Christmas events, downtown design standards for signage and lighting, and social media outreach under the name "Tremonton Main Street."
Logan Downtown Alliance earns big award
May 7, 2026
Cache County
The Logan Downtown Alliance has earned Utah's first-ever National Main Street Accreditation from Main Street America, joining more than 1,200 nationally designated Main Street communities across the country committed to preservation-based economic development. The designation, announced during National Historic Preservation Month, recognizes the Alliance's work since 2003 strengthening downtown Logan businesses, preserving historic character, and promoting arts, dining, retail, and community events in the heart of Cache Valley. Utah Main Street, housed under the State Historic Preservation Office, coordinates the program statewide and called Logan's achievement a new benchmark for other Utah communities to follow.
Salt Lake City reveals its vision for the future of its oldest park
May 7, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City has released its Liberty Park Vision Plan, outlining goals for the next several decades at the city's oldest and most beloved park, which has served residents for nearly 150 years. Drawing on more than 1,000 public comments and a cultural landscape report completed last year, the plan prioritizes preserving and maintaining existing features over dramatic new development, including a tree succession program to replace the park's aging canopy and dredging of the historic pond. New elements proposed include a boardwalk for birdwatching, a path around the pond, and a replacement greenhouse for the 1903 structure, which a structural review found unlikely to be preserved. Some community members pushed back on the greenhouse decision, arguing that maintenance of existing historic features should take precedence over new construction. The plan is 95% complete and will be reviewed by the Salt Lake City Historic Landmark Commission and city leaders before being finalized.
Logan Downtown Alliance earns Utah’s first national Main Street accreditation
May 7, 2026
Cache County
The Logan Downtown Alliance has become the first organization in Utah to earn both state and national Main Street accreditation, recognized during National Historic Preservation Month for its two-decade commitment to preservation-based economic development in downtown Logan. The accreditation, the highest designation available through the Main Street America program, follows a comprehensive assessment of the Alliance's community impact since its founding in 2003. Executive Director Gary Saxton said the strategy of advocating for rehabilitation and new development projects has created jobs, boosted tax revenue, attracted tourism, and strengthened small businesses throughout Cache Valley. Utah Main Street Program Manager Chelsea Gauthier called the achievement a roadmap for every other Main Street community in the state.
$1.6M Silver King Coalition Mine project wins Preservation Utah award
May 6, 2026
Summit County
KPCW's Local News Hour spoke with Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History members Sally Elliott and Brian Buck about the $1.6 million restoration of the Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building near Park City Mountain's Bonanza chairlift, which has earned the group a Preservation Utah Community Stewardship Award. Buck described how the project's most critical challenge was stabilizing the underground mine shaft, which had been partially backfilled in the 1990s during construction of the Bonanza chairlift but still posed a risk of collapse, threatening the historic structure above. Through a partnership with the state, the team was able to fully stabilize the shaft and complete the building restoration. The five-year project has since been recognized with local, state, and national preservation honors.
Logan Downtown Alliance earns Utah’s first-ever National Main Street Accreditation
May 6, 2026
Cache Valley
The Logan Downtown Alliance has become the first Utah community to earn both State and National Main Street Accreditation, a milestone announced by Utah Main Street and Main Street America during National Historic Preservation Month. The accreditation recognizes the Alliance's preservation-based approach to economic development, which since 2003 has strengthened downtown businesses, attracted tourism, boosted tax revenue, and supported rehabilitation projects along Logan's historic Main Street. Governor Spencer Cox praised the Alliance for preserving a unique culture and celebrating community spaces, while Utah Main Street Program Manager Chelsea Gauthier called Logan's achievement a new benchmark for excellence and a roadmap for other Main Street communities across the state. The National Main Street designation is the top recognition available for downtown revitalization programs.
Mill Creek hikes will explore Moab-area archaeology and rock art
May 6, 2026
Grand County
The Bureau of Land Management's Moab Field Office will host two free guided hikes in Mill Creek Canyon on May 15 and May 29 as part of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. Led by BLM archaeologist Chris Shaw, the morning hikes will focus on petroglyphs, historic inscriptions, and archaeological preservation on public lands in the Moab area, including recent research Shaw presented at the Pecos Archaeology Conference. Both hikes depart from the Mill Creek North Fork Trailhead at 9 a.m. and cover less than a mile of terrain. Participants are encouraged to carpool, as trailhead parking is limited.
Park City Historic Preservation Board honors Park City Museum committee
May 5, 2026
Summit County
Park City's Historic Preservation Board will present Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History with the Cindy Matsumoto Award at Thursday's City Council meeting, honoring the Park City Museum committee for its restoration and stabilization of the Silver King Coalition Mine building. The recognition comes on the heels of a Preservation Utah Community Stewardship Award for the same project, giving the all-volunteer committee what members are calling their "Academy Award and Golden Globe" of historic preservation. The committee is now turning its energy toward launching the Historic Mine Route, a seven-mile loop starting and ending at the Park City Museum on Main Street that passes 24 visible mining sites and structures, supported by a GPS-actuated audio tour app, 80 wayfinding signs, and 10 new large interpretive panels. The route is set to officially open on Miners Day, September 7, with guided group tours planned for both summer and winter seasons.
Utah Archaeology Month 2026: Events, Sites, and 13,000 Years of History
May 5, 2026
Statewide
May is Utah Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office has organized a statewide calendar of events inviting residents and visitors to connect with the deep human history embedded in Utah's landscape. State Historic Preservation Officer Chris Merritt says the goal is for people to leave with a sense of awe and personal responsibility, understanding that every artifact, from ancient Puebloan and Fremont sites to remnants of the uranium mining industry, tells part of a larger story. Events this month include BLM-led petroglyph hikes in Moab's Mill Creek Canyon, a speaker series at the Museum of Uintah County in Vernal, exhibits on Utah's Buffalo Soldiers, and an Artifacts to Aircraft tour at Hill Air Force Base on May 30. A full list of events and activities is available through the Utah State Historic Preservation Office.
The investment to secure the 'cultural soul' of Salt Lake City before it welcomes the world
May 4, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Pioneer Trail, a proposed 2-mile walking loop connecting historic sites from Temple Square to the Utah State Capitol, has secured $10 million in state funding and is on track to break ground in time for the Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 and the 2034 Winter Olympics, when a combined millions of visitors are expected in the city. Modeled after Boston's Freedom Trail, the project was conceived by Pioneer Trail Foundation chairman Ryan Beck, who envisioned a cultural anchor that would help newcomers and visitors understand what makes Utah distinct. The trail will be marked by cement plaques and possibly a copper line donated by Kennecott mine, with an offshoot passing Brigham Young's pioneer cemetery, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and the First Presbyterian Church. Phase I also includes a remodeled Memory Grove Park and increased public access to historic buildings along the route. The Foundation's backers argue the trail is essential to preserving the city's cultural identity amid rapid economic growth and development.
Historic Heber business receives $50K preservation grant
May 4, 2026
Wasatch County
Melvin's Public House, a sports bar operating in a 125-year-old National Register-listed building in downtown Heber City, has been awarded $50,000 through Utah Main Street's Rural Revive & Reside program to restore original floors, windows, and front doors. The grant program is funded by the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund and administered through Utah Main Street, with Heber City's Community Alliance for Main Street guiding owner Melissa Laird through the application process. The building, which opened as the Wasatch Saloon in 1901, is one of downtown Heber City's most storied commercial structures and has housed six businesses over its history. Renovations are already underway, with the bar set to reopen this week following a three-week closure for floor restoration.
Park City to host celebration at McPolin Barn for Historic Preservation Month
May 4, 2026
Summit County
Park City Municipal is hosting a free outdoor Historic Preservation Celebration at the iconic McPolin Barn on Friday, May 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. in recognition of Historic Preservation Month. The event will bring together preservation partners including Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, Friends of the Farm, the Park City Museum, Preservation Utah, and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, with partner booths, live music, and food and beverages on site. Friends of the Farm volunteers will offer short tours of the historic barn during the event, and a community memory station will give residents the opportunity to record stories and memories tied to local landmarks. Residents with historical photos, plats, maps, or documents are encouraged to bring them or send copies to planning@parkcity.gov ahead of the celebration. The event is free and open to the public.
The past will finally meet the present with Utah’s first ever state historical museum
May 3, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Museum of Utah, the state's first ever state historical museum, will open June 27 in the North Capitol Building on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol, bringing together 30,000 artifacts from five storage locations across the Salt Lake Valley — the vast majority of which have never been seen by the public. About 950 items will be on display at opening, with rotating exhibitions planned to introduce new pieces regularly. Highlights will include the Mormon Meteor, the legendary land speed race car driven by Salt Lake City Mayor Ab Jenkins to multiple world records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 1930s; the state's first flag; an authentic pioneer handcart; wedding dresses sewn from parachute material during World War II; and the shirt Michael J. Fox wore during a scene filmed in Monument Valley for "Back to the Future Part III." Admission will be free to the public. Utah is the 49th state to open a dedicated state historical museum, and the institution's leaders say their goal is to be the Smithsonian of Utah.
How a historic LDS Relief Society building was saved from neglect and the wrecking ball
May 2, 2026
Washington County
When Santa Clara residents learned in 1989 that the 1908 Relief Society House and adjacent circa-1870 Hug-Gubler pioneer home were slated for demolition to create additional parking, a small group of neighbors formed a committee, negotiated with the church, and purchased both structures for $22,000. To pay off the loan, they launched Santa Clara Swiss Days in 1990, now an annual September festival, using proceeds and private donations to restore both buildings, install landscaping, and add historical markers. The Victorian Eclectic adobe Relief Society House, built at a cost of $800, served as a gathering space for women's meetings, Red Cross sewing, body preparation for burial, a schoolroom, and even a quarantine site before the church reclaimed and eventually neglected it. In 2002, Santa Clara city took over the site, now known as Heritage Square at 3036 W. Santa Clara Drive, which today hosts the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, public tours, and community events. It remains the last surviving historic religious building in Santa Clara.
Heber City’s historic haunted saloon receives $50,000 grant for renovations
May 1, 2026
Wasatch County
Melvin's Public House in downtown Heber City, operating out of a 125-year-old building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has received a $50,000 grant through Utah Main Street's Rural Revive & Reside program, funded by the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund. The grant, plus $12,500 in owner contributions, will fund restoration of the original floors, windows, and front doors through hand sanding, refinishing, and sealing, along with a kitchen hood upgrade. The building opened as the Wasatch Saloon in 1901, survived Prohibition as a pool hall, and has housed six businesses over its 125-year history before owner Melissa Laird reimagined it as a family-friendly sports bar in 2018. The building is known among staff and regulars for its resident spirits, including a beloved 94-year-old regular named Jack whose presence, some say, is still felt at the bar.
Honoring history: New ‘kintsugi’ inspired mural to be installed in Japantown
April 29, 2026
Salt Lake County
A new public mural is set to be installed this summer on the north-facing wall of the Multi-Ethnic Senior Highrise along 100 South in Salt Lake City's historic Japantown, the single remaining block of what was once a vibrant Japanese American neighborhood spanning several city blocks before most of it was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Salt Palace. The Salt Lake City Reinvestment Agency, the city's Public Art Program, and a community-led Japantown Art Committee selected artist Cole Eisenhour to create the piece, which draws conceptually from kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold to honor rather than hide the damage. The design will be a mosaic of visual elements spliced by gold forms, reflecting the community's history of resilience and identity. Mayor Erin Mendenhall called the mural an opportunity to bring a too-often-overlooked story into public view.
Reinventing historic downtowns: Main Street, Logan
April 29, 2026
Cache County
The fifth installment of Utah Business's series on downtown revitalization profiles Logan's Main Street, where the 2024 closure and demolition of the Cache Valley Mall actually accelerated a downtown rebound, sending eight former mall businesses into historic buildings in the city center. The privately funded Carol and Jim Laub Plaza, which opened in September 2023 across from the Logan Tabernacle, has become the anchor of the revitalization, offering an ice rink in winter, a splash pad in summer, and an outdoor concert stage year-round, with renovated adjacent buildings housing locally owned shops and cafes. A block away, Logan's theater district features classically restored century-old venues drawing evening visitors for Broadway touring productions and performing arts. Logan's 2045 General Plan explicitly calls for preserving the city's historic downtown and built environment as a major asset to protect as the city grows.
The bipartisan investment to secure the ‘cultural soul’ of Salt Lake City before it welcomes the world
April 28, 2026
Salt Lake County
Utah lawmakers have approved $10 million toward Phase I of the Pioneer Trail, a proposed walking path connecting key historic sites in downtown Salt Lake City from Temple Square to the Utah State Capitol, with an offshoot passing the Cathedral of the Madeleine, the First Presbyterian Church, and Brigham Young's pioneer cemetery. Modeled after Boston's Freedom Trail, the project is the brainchild of the Pioneer Trail Foundation and is timed to coincide with the Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 and the 2034 Winter Olympics, when millions of visitors are expected in the city. Phase I also includes an overhaul of the 19th-century Council Hall, which will house a restaurant, a debate hall in partnership with Utah State University, and a curated historical library. Phase II envisions a reimagining of Memory Grove Park as a downtown garden. Salt Lake City has committed $1.9 million toward Memory Grove improvements, and the project has received philanthropic support from Gail Miller and Kem Gardner.
Knudsen House unveiling draws strong crowd despite weather
April 25, 2026
Utah County
A surprise spring cold snap moved the April 16 unveiling of the historical marker for the 1909 Christian and Sarah O. Knudsen House indoors to the old Lehi City Council Chambers, but the event drew a full crowd and warm response regardless. Highlights included a historical sketch by Lee Anderson, who recalled his parents renting a second-floor apartment in the home during the 1950s for $33 a month, and remarks by Paula Knudsen Boothe, a descendant of the original family. Owners Ron and Charlotte Ottosen, who have spent 21 years restoring the home, welcomed guests afterward at 123 S. Center St. for tours, having removed mid-20th-century apartment additions and returned the dining room and parlor to their original configuration with period furnishings. The Knudsen House marker is the 17th installed through Lehi's Historical Marker Program, with the next unveiling honoring Carter Airport scheduled for May 2.
Utah’s new Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail marks Black history in Wasatch County
April 24, 2026
Wasatch County
The Utah State Historic Preservation Office and the Sema Hadithi Foundation are collaborating on a new Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail, a series of interpretive signs being installed at eight sites across Utah to commemorate the history of Black American soldiers who served in the segregated U.S. Army between the Civil and Korean Wars. On April 24, volunteers installed the trail's second stop outside the Strawberry Reservoir visitors center in Wasatch County, marking the site of the 1888 "Tin War," the first large-scale U.S. Military exercises west of the Mississippi River, where two Buffalo Soldier regiments were present. When complete, the trail will stretch from Salt Lake City to the Uintas to Moab. Sema Hadithi's Ramesus Stewart-Johnson noted that Buffalo Soldiers stationed at Fort Douglas played a significant role in shifting inter-racial relations on the Utah frontier, and that a crowd of roughly 20,000 turned out to see the 24th Infantry deploy to Cuba from Salt Lake City in 1898.
What Utah put in 'America's Time Capsule' for country's 250th birthday
April 23, 2026
Statewide
As part of the nation's America 250 celebrations, Utah has assembled a collection of artifacts for "America's Time Capsule," which will be buried at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on July 4 and sealed until 2276. Utah's contributions include granite cornerstone pieces from the Utah State Capitol and the Salt Lake Temple, an 1896 silver dollar commemorating the year of Utah's statehood, silver quarters featuring Utah statehood and Arches National Park, a gold coin marking the 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad, Olympic pins from 2002 and 2034, and small cards profiling 100 of the state's most historically significant figures. The list of 100 notable Utahns covers politics, religion, business, sports and community, and includes only people who have already died. Items were selected by the America 250 Utah Commission to represent the state's history, landmarks, and people for future generations.
Coins, pins and trading cards: Utah contributes to ‘America’s time capsule’
April 22, 2026
Statewide
Utah government leaders and members of the America250 Utah Commission gathered at the State Capitol on April 22 to present the items the state will send to "America's Time Capsule," which will be buried in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4 and sealed until 2276. Utah's contributions include 100 trading cards profiling people who shaped the state's history, cornerstone pieces from the Utah State Capitol and the Salt Lake Temple, a silver dollar minted in 1896, a gold medal commemorating the 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad, Olympic pins from 2002 and 2034, historical amusement park tickets, a stock certificate from a territorial mine, and signatures from statewide officeholders, legislators, Supreme Court justices and federal elected officials. Commission co-chair Ron Fox said the selections were designed to represent Utah's people, ethnic groups, tribal nations, and landmark events across the state's history. The time capsule was mandated by Congress in 2016 as part of the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations.
'A special place': Centennial painting unveiled as Zion Lodge turns 100
April 20, 2026
Washington County
Zion National Park celebrated the 100th anniversary of Zion Lodge on April 17 with a ceremony featuring the unveiling of a newly commissioned centennial painting by Utah artist Allen Brockbank, now on permanent display inside the National Register-listed lodge. U.S. Sen. John Curtis, National Park Service staff, and representatives from POWDR, the lodge's operating company, gathered for the event. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and opened in 1925, the lodge has served as the only lodging inside Zion Canyon for a century, surviving a devastating 1966 fire, followed by a 108-day rebuild and a later restoration to Underwood's original design. Park Superintendent Jeffrey Bradybaugh said the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on both history and stewardship responsibility, noting that art can help visitors understand their role in protecting the canyon for future generations.
100 years of awe: Why Zion Lodge still anchors the park experience
April 18, 2026
Washington County
Zion National Park marked the 100th anniversary of Zion Lodge with a centennial celebration on April 17, gathering dignitaries including U.S. Sen. John Curtis to honor the historic building designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and opened in May 1925. Built with timber lowered by the Cable Mountain Draw Works to harmonize with the narrow canyon floor, the lodge was constructed during the Calvin Coolidge administration by the Union Pacific Railroad's Utah Parks Company following the arrival of a rail spur in Cedar City in 1923. A fire on January 26, 1966 destroyed the original structure, but the local community and Utah Parks Company rebuilt it in just 108 days. A 1990 renovation later restored the lodge to Underwood's original National Park Service Rustic design. The centennial celebration included the unveiling of a commemorative painting, "Stay in Awe," by landscape artist Allen Brockbank. Zion draws roughly 5 million visitors per year, making it the second most visited national park in the country.
Salt Lake City dings developer for 'unfortunate' mishap over historic building
April 18, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency board voted to reduce tax incentives for developer Blaser Ventures by approximately $1 million after the company demolished the 1894 Utah Pickle Company Building at 741 S. 400 West in the Granary District, despite a city agreement to preserve it. Blaser, whose $90 million Pickle & Hide mixed-use project also incorporates the historic Bissinger Company Hides building, demolished the pickle building shortly after the agreement was signed, citing structural issues with its sandstone foundation, and has since rebuilt it using many of the original materials. The board reduced Blaser's maximum reimbursement cap from roughly $6.1 million to $5.1 million, while retaining the 90% reimbursement rate for up to 15 years. The project, which will include 141 housing units with nearly 40% affordable, is on track to open in August with restaurant tenants Culinary Dropout and Uchi already signed.
Ogden City approves land transfer agreement to restore and preserve historic stockyard building
April 17, 2026
Weber County
The Ogden City Council has voted to approve a Land Transfer and Development Agreement with 600 Exchange Building LLC to preserve and restore the 1930 Union Stock Exchange Building in West Ogden, a National Register-listed landmark that has sat vacant and deteriorating since the city acquired it in 2013. Developer Fischer Regan Enterprises, which has rehabilitated more than a dozen historic buildings in downtown Ogden over the past 15 years, will restore the Art Deco structure as high-quality historic office and light industrial space while preserving the architectural legacy of designer Leslie S. Hodgson. Defense contractor GMRE will relocate its national headquarters to the building, bringing 60 direct jobs and an estimated 45 indirect jobs to the area. The city will contribute up to $1 million toward stabilization and pre-construction work, reimbursable only after documented completion. Design approvals are required within 120 days, with core construction expected to be completed within approximately 18 months of closing.
Friends of Ski Mountain Mining claims a Stewardship Award
April 17, 2026
Summit County
The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, an all-volunteer committee of the Park City Museum, will receive a Rehabilitation and Restoration Community Stewardship Award from Preservation Utah at the April 28 ceremony in Salt Lake City for its multiyear restoration of the 1926 Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building at the base of Park City Mountain's Bonanza chairlift. The project, the largest and most complex the committee has undertaken in its decade of operation, addressed a collapsed roof, a dangerously settled mine shaft 17 feet deep, and exposed ancient masonry footings threatening the entire structure. Crews worked with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to plug the shaft with polyurethane foam, encase the footings, and install a concrete cap, before rebuilding the snow-damaged roof using original corrugated metal panels. Preservation Utah executive director Brandy Strand praised the committee for rallying community partners and bringing the structure back to its original character. The committee plans to launch guided Heritage Tourism tours of the complex, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, over Labor Day weekend.
Reinventing historic downtowns: Provo’s Center Street
April 16, 2026
Utah County
The second installment of Utah Business's five-part series on downtown revitalization profiles Provo's Center Street, where 79 locally owned restaurants and a collection of historic buildings have created a destination dining and cultural scene that draws visitors from across Utah County and beyond. Downtown Provo Inc. executive director Quinn Peterson argues that the presence of historic buildings has naturally kept large corporate chains out, leaving room for locally owned startups and independent businesses to thrive. The article also highlights how the community rallied to save Velour Live Music Gallery, a legendary 20-year-old concert venue, when pandemic closures threatened its survival — with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and Zions Bank teaming up to raise and match emergency funds. Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins has announced the return of the popular Rooftop Concert Series to downtown this summer.
Experience the Japanese Church of Christ photograph collection
April 16, 2026
Salt Lake County
The J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections at the University of Utah is highlighting its Japanese Church of Christ photograph collection, which documents over a century of Japanese American community life in Salt Lake City's historic Japantown. The collection consists of 10 boxes of black-and-white and color photographs donated by congregation members, capturing weddings, picnics, funerals, youth groups, mutual aid efforts, and cultural celebrations from the church's founding in 1918 through its first hundred years. The Gothic Revival chapel at 268 West 100 South was built in 1924 for $30,000, largely funded by local Japanese American businesses and community members. The collection is part of the Mitsugi M. Kasai Memorial Japanese American Archive, with a selection of images available through the University's Digital Library. Appointments to view the full collection in Special Collections are free and open to the public.
City leaders approve $1M plan to restore Union Stock Exchange Building in Ogden
April 16, 2026
Weber County
Ogden city leaders have approved a $1 million plan to restore the historic Union Stock Exchange Building, a 1930 Art Deco landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places that has sat vacant and deteriorating for years. The funds will go toward stabilization and pre-construction work, with payments made only after work is completed and documented. The project will bring defense contractor GMRE to the restored building as its national headquarters, creating an estimated 60 direct jobs in the area. Mayor Ben Nadolski called the approval a milestone in his administration's commitment to historic preservation and economic growth.
Ogden gives go-ahead for $1 million restoration plan for Union Stock Exchange Building
April 16, 2026
Weber County
The Ogden City Council has approved a $1 million contribution to help restore the 1930 Union Stock Exchange Building, a National Register-listed Art Deco landmark that has sat vacant and deteriorating for decades. The funds will be used for stabilization and pre-construction work, paid out only after work is completed and documented. The building was originally home to livestock-related services and a U.S. Department of Agriculture office before falling into disrepair despite multiple previous attempts at restoration. Mayor Ben Nadolski called the approval a significant step in delivering on his commitment to historic preservation and said the project will also bring high-paying jobs to the community through the planned relocation of defense contractor GMRE to the restored building.
After a historic building’s demolition, SLC Council slashes developer’s incentive
April 15, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake City Council voted 6-1 to reduce a tax reimbursement deal with Blaser Ventures from $6 million to approximately $5 million after the developer demolished the historic Utah Pickle Co. Building at 739 S. 400 West in the Granary District, despite originally agreeing to preserve, rehabilitate, or repurpose it. Built in 1894, the sandstone warehouse had ties to a soap company owned by the family of LDS Church President Heber J. Grant and later housed a pickle maker, becoming a recognized landmark in the neighborhood. Blaser is rebuilding the structure using some original materials with a modified design featuring larger windows and a north-side addition. The broader project will include 141 housing units, nearly 40% of which will be affordable, along with over 22,000 square feet of commercial space. Housing units are expected to come online this summer.
'Overjoyed': Ogden OKs plan to rehab deteriorating Union Stock Exchange Building
April 15, 2026
Weber County
Ogden's Redevelopment Agency Board has approved a plan to rehabilitate the long-vacant Union Stock Exchange Building at 600 W. Exchange Road, a 1931 Art Deco landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and named one of Preservation Utah's 2025 Most Endangered Sites. The city will transfer the property to developer 600 Exchange Building LLC at no cost and contribute $1 million toward rehabilitation, which could cost between $8 million and $16 million. The building will serve as the new headquarters of GMRE, a defense contractor currently based in South Ogden, bringing an estimated 60 jobs to the area. Developer Thaine Fischer, who has rehabilitated other buildings designed by the same architect, Leslie Hodgson, plans to preserve the building's distinctive Art Deco facade, decorative bull, sheep, and hog relief details, and historic interior features. Rehabilitation is expected to take 18 months to two years pending structural and environmental assessments.
21st annual Utah Japan Festival will be bigger than ever
April 15, 2026
Salt Lake County
The 21st annual Nihon Matsuri Utah Japan Festival is coming to Salt Lake City's historic Japantown Street on April 26, with organizers expecting 15,000 to 20,000 attendees. Founded 21 years ago by Floyd Mori with just a handful of organizers and 1,500 first-year attendees, the festival has grown into one of the state's largest cultural celebrations, educating the broader Utah community about Japanese and Japanese American culture, history, and traditions while supporting the visibility of Japantown. The event features more than 40 vendors, a main performance stage with martial arts demonstrations, taiko drumming, anime cosplay, and traditional and modern Japanese music and dance. This year's featured artist is singer-songwriter Mari Iijima, celebrating the 42nd anniversary of her musical debut.
Utah students create documentaries, exhibits for National History Day competition
April 15, 2026
Statewide
Thousands of Utah students are participating in National History Day, a nationwide program administered in Utah by the Utah Historical Society that challenges students to research and present original history projects in the form of documentaries, live performances, websites, and museum-style exhibits. Unlike traditional history classes, students choose their own topics, spend months researching, and connect their work to a yearly theme. Top finishers at the state competition advance to the national level. Program leaders and alumni say the experience builds lasting critical-thinking and research skills and often shapes students' academic interests and career paths well beyond the competition itself.
Thaine Fischer discusses how he started rehabbing historic Ogden buildings
April 13, 2026
Weber County
Thaine Fischer, managing partner at Fischer Regan Enterprises, has spent two decades rehabilitating historic commercial buildings in downtown Ogden, acquiring 14 properties and completing renovations on more than 11 of them along 25th Street and Washington Boulevard. Fischer, who moved to Ogden in 2006 after recognizing the area's potential as ski resorts developed nearby, began with the Business Information Center and the former Star Noodle Building before the 2008 recession slowed his plans. Redevelopment resumed in earnest around 2014, with projects including The Monarch creative arts building, Stella's Italian Restaurant in the Star Noodle Building, and Sola Salons. Fischer says he wishes more investors would follow suit, noting that the track record of success in Ogden's historic core makes rehabilitation a viable business model.
A Utah city honors a past steeped in women’s voting rights, an LDS Church-owned railroad and an iconic ’80s movie
April 10, 2026
Utah County
The Lehi Historical Marker Program, overseen by the Lehi Historical Society, is steadily building a citywide network of historical markers honoring significant sites across Lehi, inspired by director Lara Bangerter's visit to Philadelphia where she was struck by the city's open celebration of its own history. Launched in 2022 with backing from a city grant and the HADCO Construction family, the program has installed 16 markers so far at sites including the Relief Society Hall, where the Woman's Suffrage Association of Lehi was organized in the 1880s; Lehi Roller Mills, featured in the 1984 film "Footloose" and producing flour since 1906; the Jordan River Bridge; and the LDS Church-owned Utah Southern Railroad. Twenty more markers are planned, with 10 scheduled for this year, including some for buildings that no longer stand. The next unveiling is set for April 16 at the Christian Knudsen House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Utahn reflects on Japanese church's legacy
April 10, 2026
Salt Lake County
Lorraine Murakami Crouse, a third-generation member of the Japanese Church of Christ in downtown Salt Lake City, reflects on the 101-year-old congregation's deep roots in Utah's Japanese American community. The church traces its origins to Japanese railroad workers who worshipped informally in homes before the congregation was formally founded in 1918, with growth fueled in part by labor agent E.D. Hashimoto, who recruited workers from Japan to build railroads across the Mountain West and established an import store on South Temple whose family became one of the church's founding cornerstone families. The building remains one of only two surviving structures from Salt Lake City's historic Japantown.
Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe rehabilitation among Preservation Utah’s 2026 community stewardship awards
April 9, 2026
Summit County
Preservation Utah has named the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, a committee of the Park City Museum, among the recipients of its 2026 Community Stewardship Awards for the four-year rehabilitation of the 1926 Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building above Park City Mountain Resort. The 12,400-square-foot industrial landmark had been vacant since 1953 and was at risk of structural failure when it was listed among Preservation Utah's 2024 Most Endangered Sites. Completed in October 2025, the project stabilized a collapsing mine shaft and rebuilt the snow-damaged roof using original corrugated metal panels. The building now serves as the centerpiece of the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District, designated in December 2024, and will anchor the Park City Historic Mine Route launching in September 2026. Nine additional recipients across six other categories will also be honored at the April 28 awards ceremony at Memorial House in Salt Lake City.
Historic Park City mine building honored for preservation efforts
April 9, 2026
Summit County
Preservation Utah has recognized the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History for the rehabilitation of the 1926 Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building above Park City Mountain Resort as part of its 2026 Community Stewardship Awards. The four-year project, completed in October 2025, rescued the 12,400-square-foot industrial building after it collapsed from snow damage and structural failure. The building was designated the centerpiece of the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District in 2024 and will anchor the Park City Historic Mine Route launching in September 2026. All 10 award recipients will be honored April 28 in Salt Lake City as Preservation Utah marks its 60th anniversary.
Historic Knudsen house to be honored with marker
April 8, 2026
Utah County
The Lehi Historical Society will unveil a historical marker for the Christian and Sarah O. Knudsen House at 123 S. Center St. on April 16 at 6 p.m., with a public tour of the residence to follow. Built in 1909 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1998, the two-story Victorian Eclectic home is one of Lehi's most architecturally significant historic residences, featuring buff-colored brick, decorative stone window accents, a wraparound porch with Tuscan columns, and a leaded-glass transom window. The house was built by Christian Knudsen, a Norwegian immigrant who became a successful cattleman in Lehi, and remained in the family until the mid-20th century. Current owners Ron and Charlotte Ottosen have cared for and restored the property since 2005. This will be the 17th marker in the Lehi Historical Marker Program.
Preservation Utah announces 2026 Community Stewardship Award recipients
April 7, 2026
Statewide
Preservation Utah has named 10 recipients of its 2026 Community Stewardship Awards, to be presented April 28 at Memorial House in Salt Lake City as part of the organization's 60th anniversary. The honorees span the state and represent the full range of what preservation looks like in Utah today, from affordable housing and legacy businesses to major landmarks and rural homes. This year's recipients are: Arbor 515 (Wilde Wood Tower) in Salt Lake City, recognized for adaptive reuse of a 1981 Modernist office tower as 96 affordable housing units; The Milk Block in Salt Lake City, for rehabilitation of a 1941 building in the Liberty Wells Historic District; historian Korral Broschinsky, for over 30 years of statewide preservation documentation; Roosters Hospitality Group in Ogden, a 30-year legacy business on Historic 25th Street; Friends of Historic Spring City, for over 40 years of community preservation work; Susan Dolemba for her long-term stewardship of the circa-1880 Nebeker-Kearl House in Laketown; the Bernard O. Mecklenburg Residence in Salt Lake City; the Browning Apartments in Ogden; the Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building in Park City; and three 1891 Army cottages at Fort Douglas on the University of Utah campus.
Park City mining landmark wins statewide preservation honor
April 7, 2026
Summit County
The Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, a committee of the Park City Museum, has received a 2026 Community Stewardship Award from Preservation Utah in the rehabilitation and restoration category for a four-year effort to stabilize and restore the 1926 Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building in Woodside Gulch above Park City Mountain Resort. The 12,400-square-foot industrial building had been vacant since 1953 and was previously named one of Preservation Utah's 2024 Most Endangered Sites. Completed in October 2025, the rehabilitation stabilized a collapsed mine shaft and rebuilt the snow-damaged roof using original corrugated metal panels while preserving their historic patina. The restored building serves as the centerpiece of the Silver King Coalition Mine National Historic District, designated in December 2024, and will anchor the Park City Historic Mine Route launching in September 2026. The award will be presented at the April 28 Community Stewardship Awards ceremony in Salt Lake City.
How Helper, Utah's artists, and vintage collectors are breathing new life into Main Street
April 6, 2026
Carbon County
A Fox 13 feature profiles the ongoing revitalization of Helper's historic Main Street, driven by artists, vintage collectors, and entrepreneurs who have embraced the town's immigrant railroad heritage rather than erasing it. Central to the story is Gary DeVincent, who has purchased and restored crumbling storefronts and vintage gas stations along Main Street, filling them with mid-century Americana and leasing them as landmarks. His Vintage Motor Company operates out of a restored 1906 building. Artists Ben and Melanie Steele, who moved to Helper in 2003 after being advised to seek an affordable community over New York City, have built a nationally recognized gallery presence on Main Street. Their signature "Made in Helper" crayon box series celebrates the town's multicultural immigrant past, represented by the 27 languages reportedly spoken there during the coal mining era.
Cedar City's historic iron marker to be restored following yearslong hunt for missing pieces
April 6, 2026
Iron County
Cedar City's Historic Preservation Commission is restoring the Iron Foundry Marker, a 1933 monument commemorating Utah's first iron mining mission, directed by Brigham Young in 1851. The marker was made from local iron ore and recognized the site where the first iron west of the Mississippi River was manufactured. It was damaged when city workers attempted to move it in the early 2000s, with pieces sitting behind the local cemetery for nearly two decades until visitors came looking for it. Commission chair Aleese Cardon led a years-long effort to locate the missing pieces, eventually tracking down the iron ball in the cemetery sexton's office fireplace and the sawed-up plaque at a local recycling yard. Funded by federal dollars left over from a road project, the restored marker will be placed at the bottom of 600 West alongside a new monument explaining its history, with a rededication ceremony tentatively set for July 6.
KBS completes sale of 210,938-SF renovated historic office asset with multifamily development potential in downtown Salt Lake City
April 2, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake Hardware Building at 155 N. 400 West, a 117-year-old converted industrial property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been sold by real estate firm KBS to Dart Interests. Originally constructed in 1909 to supply hardware for the transcontinental railroad network, the five-story, 210,938-square-foot building was renovated by KBS into Class A creative office space with more than $9 million in capital improvements while preserving its historic character. The 2.45-acre site also carries development potential for approximately 340 or more residential units. The new owner cited the building's historic character and strong downtown location as key factors in the acquisition.
Historic 'Big Boy' rolls through Utah, bringing America’s past back to life
April 2, 2026
Statewide
Union Pacific's Big Boy 4014, the world's largest steam locomotive still in operation, is making its way through Utah as part of a cross-country tour celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Originally built in 1941 to haul freight over steep mountain terrain between Utah and Wyoming, the locomotive was restored from museum display and returned to the rails as part of Union Pacific's heritage program. The locomotive stopped at Salt Lake City's Central Station before heading north, with a return stop planned at Ogden Union Station on April 18. Crowds lined the tracks at each stop to watch and hear the historic engine pass.
Provo School District moves ahead with plans to demolish historic Dixon Middle School
April 1, 2026
Utah County
The Provo School District has approved a $40 million plan to demolish Dixon Middle School, a neighborhood landmark that has stood on North 700 West since the 1930s, and replace it with a smaller elementary school serving students relocated from Timpanogos Elementary. Community members have attended district meetings to voice concerns about the loss of the nearly century-old building, which generations of Provo residents attended. Students were moved to Shoreline Middle School in 2024, and demolition is scheduled for July, with the new building expected to be completed by summer 2028. Neighbors said they understand the need for modernization but hope the replacement will serve the community as well as the building it replaces.
Provo School District moves ahead with plans to demolish historic Dixon Middle School
April 1, 2026
Utah County
Residents near Dixon Middle School in Provo are pushing back against the school district's plans to demolish the nearly century-old building, which has served the community since the 1930s. The Provo School District has approved a roughly $40 million replacement project, with demolition scheduled for July and a new, smaller elementary school expected to open by summer 2028. Neighbors say the building holds deep generational ties for the community, with many Provo residents having attended the school themselves. District officials say the new building will use a guaranteed maximum price contract to control costs, though the replacement will cost more per square foot than recently built schools in the district despite being roughly half the size of the current structure.
Reinventing historic downtowns: Ogden’s Historic 25th Street
April 1, 2026
Weber County
Utah Business profiles Ogden's Historic 25th Street as a success story in downtown revitalization, highlighting how the preservation of the city's historic core has become a foundation for a thriving small business and community events scene. Because Ogden was largely bypassed by the suburban strip mall development that hollowed out other Utah downtowns in the 1980s and 90s, its historic buildings survived intact and are now home to galleries, restaurants, breweries, and artists' studios. The Ogden Downtown Alliance, led by executive director Reide Thompson, organized 32 free community events in 2025 drawing an estimated 309,000 visitors, anchored by the winter farmers market at historic Union Station. Business owners credit the preservation of the historic streetscape and the community events culture as the primary drivers of the district's resurgence.
Past Perfect: A Historic Home in Spring City
March 30, 2026
Sanpete County
A 142-year-old stone home in Spring City — the first community in Utah to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in its entirety — has been carefully restored by history enthusiast JaeLynn Williams into a welcoming short-term retreat. Built in 1883 by settler Isaac Behunin, the home is one of more than 300 historic structures in a town whose streetscape still reflects 19th-century planning. Designer Cindy McCarley guided the restoration with an intent to honor the home's late Victorian architecture while integrating modern conveniences, using period-inspired wallpapers, custom cabinetry, and heritage-style furnishings throughout. The property also includes a historic cabin relocated to the lot, with original exposed logs and hand-restored chinking preserved as part of the design.
Utah's Once-Thriving Railroad Locale Is Now An Abandoned Ghost Town With Historic Ruins To Explore
March 29, 2026
Box Elder County
The ghost town of Terrace in Utah's northwest desert, once a bustling railroad terminal of up to 1,000 residents on the First Transcontinental Railroad from 1869 to 1904, is drawing renewed attention as archaeologists excavate its history — particularly the story of its Chinese residents, who may have comprised 10 percent of the population. Digs have unearthed the foundations of Terrace's Chinatown along with artifacts, including porcelain vases, medicine jars, Chinese coins, and Go pieces, which will be displayed at the new Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City when it opens later this year. Though little remains of the town's buildings above ground, the site still features remnants of railway track, roundhouse depressions, and a cemetery used until 1910, six years after the railroad was rerouted and the town abandoned.
Lehi Historical Society announces 2026 theme and logo celebrating America’s 250th
March 28, 2026
Utah County
The Lehi Historical Society has announced its 2026 theme, "Lehi: Founded in Faith. Forged in Freedom," as part of nationwide celebrations marking America's semiquincentennial. Throughout the year, the society will highlight the contributions of Lehi's founders and early settlers to both the local community and the broader American story. A new commemorative logo featuring a beehive, patriotic bunting, and gold stars has been unveiled and will appear at each of the society's 11 planned historical marker unveilings across the year, beginning with the March 21 unveiling at the historic Relief Society Hall at 212 W. Main Street.
Abandoned for decades, this old Utah building now serves an egg-celent breakfast
March 28, 2026
Cache County
Fairway Bagels and Donuts opened March 5 in Logan, reviving a building at the corner of 400 South and 400 West that had sat abandoned for roughly 50 years as the former home of Fairway Market, a neighborhood grocery store. Owners Amber Christensen and Robyn Monk intentionally chose the historic space, naming their new bakery after the original tenant to honor the building's community history. The pair, already known in Cache Valley for their artisan bakery Le Croissant, launched Fairway after bringing back a beloved bagel menu that customers had mourned since 2024, with everything made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients.
Historic Utah buildings find new purpose through business redevelopment
March 27, 2026
Statewide
Utah Business profiles six examples of businesses across the state that have adaptively reused historic buildings with support from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, demonstrating how tax credits, incentives, and grants can make preservation economically viable. The featured projects range from Traeger Pellet Grills occupying a former newspaper printing facility in Salt Lake City's Post District, to Evo's outdoor recreation hub in a 19th-century trolley complex, an organ manufacturer in an American Fork Gothic Revival meetinghouse, a music shop in Murray's Victorian-era Waverly Building, a performing arts theater in Magna's 1916 Empress Theater, and a florist operating out of a preserved 1955 Sinclair gas station in Logan. Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Amber Anderson notes that adaptive reuse is essential to keeping historic buildings alive as living community resources rather than static museums.
Next Gen:. Kelly Asao battles for Salt Lake City Japantown
March 27, 2026
Salt Lake County
Dr. Kelly Eiko Asao, a fourth-generation Japanese American and Associate Professor of Psychology at Westminster University, is leading efforts to ensure Salt Lake City's historic Japantown remains a living cultural hub rather than a casualty of downtown redevelopment. As Intermountain District Governor of the Japanese American Citizens League, Asao has helped secure $11 million for a Festival Street project on 100 South that will formally recognize the Nikkei community's historic presence and serve as a permanent gathering space for cultural events like Nihon Matsuri and Obon. With the $3 billion Smith Entertainment Group development reshaping the surrounding blocks, Asao argues that Japantown — one of the last visible anchors of Utah's Japanese American community, which grew to over 8,000 residents by 1945 — must shift from being merely consulted in redevelopment decisions to being a genuine stakeholder in shaping its own future.
These bagels broke Cache Valley's heart. Here's where you can find them
March 26, 2026
Cache County
Fairway Bagels and Donuts has opened in Logan, bringing back a beloved bagel menu that Cache Valley mourned when it disappeared from Caffe Ibis's kitchen in 2024. Owners Amber Christensen and Robyn Monk chose a building at the corner of 400 South and 400 West that had sat abandoned for roughly 50 years as the former Fairway Market neighborhood grocery store, and named the new bakery in the building's honor. Everything on the menu is made from scratch in-house, with locally sourced meats and organic flour, and the shop has already built a devoted following since opening on March 5
Photo Series: History in Architecture - A look at Salt Lake City’s most historic buildings.
March 25, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Daily Utah Chronicle presents a photo series highlighting five of Salt Lake City's most significant historic buildings, with photography by Kristina Walker. The series features the Cathedral of the Madeleine (1909), designed in a blend of Roman and Gothic styles by Carl Neuhausen and Bernard Mecklenburg; the First Presbyterian Church (1905), designed by Salt Lake architect Walter Ware in English-Scottish Gothic Revival style after Carlisle Cathedral in England; the McCune Mansion (1901), built for $1 million with Utah sandstone, Dutch roof tiles, and South American mahogany; the Governor's Mansion (1902), a French château-style limestone home built for silver mining magnate Thomas Kearns and later donated to the state; and the Utah State Capitol (1912), designed by Richard K.A. Kletting in Neoclassical Corinthian style using granite quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Historic Wendover bomb loading pit restored in airfield museum
March 25, 2026
Tooele County
The restored atomic bomb loading pit at Historic Wendover Airfield is now open to the public as part of the site's daily tours, following a complete volunteer restoration by Utah-based SME Steel. The pit, where crews trained to load replica atomic bombs into B-29 bombers in the final months of World War II, had sat empty for decades. SME Steel workers reverse-engineered the original cradle and hydraulic system with no drawings or blueprints to guide them, donating their time and resources entirely. Airfield historian Tom Petersen calls it one of the most significant holes in the ground in American history, noting that many of the men who built and used it had no idea they were part of the Manhattan Project. The restored pit is now featured on the airfield's 1:30 p.m. daily tour.
Will giving the Rio Grande Depot to the U. create more hurdles for a development plan?
March 25, 2026
Salt Lake County
Supporters of the Rio Grande Plan are pressing Governor Spencer Cox to use a line-item veto to block a provision in a state budget bill that transfers the historic Rio Grande Depot to the University of Utah, arguing the move creates an unnecessary obstacle to the community-backed proposal to bury downtown rail lines and restore the depot as a transit hub. The transfer language, which did not mention the building by name, was tucked into a 100-page bill in the final week of the legislative session without public discussion. Cox has indicated he will not veto the provision, saying the university transfer will help ensure the building does not sit empty and would not prevent the depot from eventually serving as a transit hub. The University of Utah has suggested a possible use as a drone test and certification facility, while emphasizing that the building remains state property. The depot was built in 1910, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and has been closed since earthquake damage in 2020.
Lost in Translation - Plan to reimagine Downtown Salt Lake City leaves Japantown in the lurch, again.
March 25, 2026
Salt Lake County
As Salt Lake City moves forward with ambitious plans to redevelop its downtown sports and convention district ahead of the 2034 Olympics, the two remaining buildings of historic Japantown — the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple — face uncertain futures. Community members and advocates worry that new hotel and apartment construction, some potentially reaching 375 feet, will dwarf the mostly single-story historic block, while years of construction traffic and staging will severely disrupt access to both properties. Utah Japantown Advocates, cofounded by descendants of the original community, are pushing for meaningful engagement with Smith Entertainment Group and city planners, as well as a promised Japantown streetscape renovation featuring cherry trees, Japanese sculptures, and a pedestrian promenade. That project remains in the design phase with no construction timeline confirmed. Community members say they are not opposed to growth, but want Japantown recognized as a destination worthy of its century-long heritage rather than an afterthought to redevelopment.
Two new museums will debut in Salt Lake City this summer.
March 25, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City will welcome two new museums this summer. The Museum of Utah opens June 27 in a new building at 450 N. State Street, north of the Capitol, as an extension of the Utah Historical Society featuring exhibits on Utah history, culture, and art. The second, the Salt Lake Art Museum (SLAM), will open in July inside the historic B'nai Israel Temple at 249 S. 400 East, the oldest synagogue in Utah and the state's first permanent Jewish house of worship, designed by German architect Philip Meyer and modeled after a Berlin synagogue. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been vacant of religious services since the 1970s. New owner Micah Christensen purchased it for $3 million and is developing a seven-story apartment complex on the adjacent parcel. The museum's inaugural programming celebrates architect Richard K.A. Kletting, whose prolific Utah portfolio includes the State Capitol, the Fisher Mansion, the original Saltair Resort, and numerous University of Utah buildings.
Historic Tower Theatre to be partially deconstructed — but it'll help restore its 1920s design
March 24, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake Film Society has filed paperwork with Salt Lake City to begin preliminary facade deconstruction of the Tower Theatre at 876 E. 900 South, with work expected to start in April and continue into the summer. The partial deconstruction of the 1950s-era exterior will help architects assess what original 1928 materials and structural elements remain, informing final renovation plans for the beloved 9th and 9th landmark, which has been closed since 2020. The original facade was inspired by the Tower of London but was significantly altered in the 1950s. The nonprofit is still seeking philanthropic donations to fund the full renovation, and a reopening timeline has not yet been announced.
The Tower Theatre’s long-awaited reconstruction is about to begin in 9th and 9th. Here’s what’s planned.
March 24, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake Film Society has filed for a city building permit to begin deconstructing the facade of the historic Tower Theatre at 876 E. 900 South, marking the first concrete step toward renovating the 98-year-old movie house, which has been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and a March 2020 earthquake. Architects will carefully remove portions of the 1950s-era exterior to assess what original 1928 materials and structural elements remain, including a castle tower hidden beneath decades of later construction. Renovation plans call for preserving the main auditorium, adding a second-floor event space, three basement screening rooms, a speakeasy, and an elevator, while digitally recreating the theater's destroyed west tower for nighttime cinematic projections on the restored facade.
Heated Helper City Council Meeting Ends with Historic Property Decision Tabled
March 21, 2026
Carbon County
A special Helper City Council meeting on March 19 ended with a unanimous vote to table a decision on whether to surplus a 1920s-era building at 69 South Main Street, after heated public debate over the potential sale. The building, part of a National Register historic district, represents one of the last surviving examples of Helper's earliest commercial development. Preservation Utah spoke against the sale, arguing the building should remain in public ownership to protect community oversight of the resource. The council tabled the decision in order to resolve conflicting city code and clarify the surplus process before reconsidering.
Bureau of Land Management approves fuel treatment for Gold Springs Historic Property
March 20, 2026
Iron County
The Bureau of Land Management has approved a vegetation and fuel treatment project at the Gold Springs Historic Mining District in southwestern Utah, a National Register-listed site dating to an 1887 gold and silver mining community. Once a bustling townsite with two dozen structures, a mercantile, a hotel, and a post office, Gold Springs now has only two standing buildings. The approved project will remove hazardous fuels around the surviving structures and treat approximately 450 acres of the 1,176-acre site to reduce wildfire risk, with work expected to begin in fall 2026 following a 30-day appeal period.
Group calls on Cox to veto historic Rio Grande Depot transfer, allow time for study
March 18, 2026
Salt Lake County
Via Rio Grande, the community group seeking to restore the historic Rio Grande Depot as a transit hub, is calling on Governor Spencer Cox to veto the legislation transferring the 116-year-old building to the University of Utah. The group argues the transfer was approved without meaningful public input and worries it could undermine the Rio Grande Plan, a multibillion-dollar proposal to bury railroad lines and return the depot to use as a working train station. Salt Lake City officials say they were never informed of the transfer or offered the building. Cox has not indicated he would veto the bill, which passed both legislative chambers with overwhelming support and is set to take effect in July 2027.
USA Climbing’s National Training Center construction project jumps quarter-million-dollar hurdle
March 16, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City's Community Reinvestment Agency has authorized an additional $250,000 to help USA Climbing move forward with its National Training Center in the Rio Grande District, clearing a key financial hurdle tied to a historic building on the site. The 119-year-old Salt Lake Mattress Co. building, originally required to be preserved as part of the project, proved too costly to restore at $7.3 million. USA Climbing instead proposed demolishing and rebuilding it with historic features for approximately $6.25 million, with the city covering the remaining gap. The training center, developed in partnership with Momentum Indoor Climbing, is expected to break ground in fall 2026 and open in January 2028.
Historic Salt Lake Japanese church works to preserve existence during uncertain times
March 13, 2026
Salt Lake County
The Japanese Church of Christ, founded in 1918 and one of only two remaining buildings representing Salt Lake City's historic Japantown, is working to sustain its community as the surrounding area transforms into a major entertainment district. The congregation, many of whose members represent families with roots in Utah dating to the late 1800s, recently celebrated its 101st anniversary. Reverend Andrew Fleishman and the church trustees are grappling with how the historic institution can continue to serve its multigenerational Japanese American community amid ongoing downtown redevelopment pressures.
U. to assume ownership of historic Rio Grande Depot in Salt Lake City
March 13, 2026
Salt Lake County
The University of Utah is set to assume ownership of the historic Rio Grande Depot at 300 S. Rio Grande Street, following passage of a state appropriations bill that transfers the 116-year-old building, along with over $600,000 in ongoing operations and maintenance funding. The depot — a designated local landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 — has been closed since a 5.7-magnitude earthquake damaged it in March 2020. Seismic retrofit work is ongoing. The university has not yet announced a specific plan for the space, but has indicated it will be used for educational purposes. The transfer adds a new dimension to ongoing conversations about the future of the Rio Grande District, including a community-backed proposal to restore the depot as a transit hub.
Brownstone 22 opens downtown, adding a new spark to SLC’s dining scene
March 12, 2026
Salt Lake County
Brownstone 22, a new upscale seafood and cocktail bar, has opened in the historic Utah Commercial and Savings Bank Building at 22 E. 100 South — a sandstone landmark designed in 1888 by Richard K.A. Kletting, the architect also responsible for the Utah State Capitol. The building previously housed Martine, a beloved power-broker dining spot, for more than two decades before closing during COVID. Operators Richard Romney and Travis Herbert, the team behind Felt Bar & Eatery, partnered with building owner Bill Campbell to restore and reimagine the space, which features three distinct dining areas including an expanded mezzanine level. The menu draws inspiration from classic East Coast oyster houses and martini bars, with the renovation carefully respecting the building's historic character throughout.
Historic Wendover Airfield recreates bomb loading pit used during World War II
March 11, 2026
Tooele County
Historic Wendover Airfield has unveiled a reconstructed bomb-loading cradle at its historic pit, giving visitors a firsthand look at the specialized engineering developed during the Manhattan Project. The pit — dug into the desert floor so that massive five-ton bombs could be raised by hydraulic lift into aircraft from below — had been empty for decades. West Jordan-based SME Steel rebuilt the cradle using 3D scanning technology and historical research. Wendover served as the primary training base for the 509th Composite Group, the unit that delivered the atomic bombs, and the airfield is considered one of the most intact Army Air Forces bases remaining from World War II. Restoration work is ongoing, with crews also restoring a gunnery range, a surgical unit, a training memorial, and a historic bomb truck.
Southern Utah museum restores 70-year-old plane, preserves aviation history
March 10, 2026
Washington County
The Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum in St. George has completed restoration of a 1955 MiG-15UTI, a Russian-designed, Polish-built fighter jet, returning the 70-year-old aircraft to flying condition. The museum, owned by retired Air Force Colonel Jake Hunter, focuses on education and houses a notable collection of rare aircraft — including one of the last surviving Galeb G-2 Yugoslavian planes and a Douglas C-54 flown by the "Candy Bomber" during the Berlin Airlift. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday with free admission and regularly hosts school groups and air shows.
Here's the future and past of Cache Valley's most infamously haunted retreat
March 9, 2026
Cache County
St. Ann's Retreat in Logan Canyon — long known locally as "The Nunnery" and notorious for ghost stories and teenage trespassing — is set for restoration as a resort. The property dates to 1915, when the wealthy Hatch and Odlum families developed it into a retreat that hosted celebrities and dignitaries, before the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City acquired it in 1950 as a nun's retreat and youth camp. New owner Cameron Jensen is navigating U.S. Forest Service historic preservation regulations as he restores the complex, with plans to open in 2027.
Preservation Utah Receives National Trust Moe Family Fund Grant for Advocacy Resource Hub
March 9, 2026
Statewide
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded Preservation Utah a $5,000 Moe Family Fund grant to launch the Advocacy Resource Hub, a statewide online platform and training initiative designed to equip communities, advocates, and officials with practical tools to protect historic places and shape preservation policy. The Hub will centralize model ordinances, advocacy alerts, case studies, and training resources to expand coordination and statewide impact. Preservation Utah was one of eight organizations nationally to receive Moe Family Fund grants in 2026, which, since 2008, have supported statewide and local preservation organizations working in advocacy, education, and community revitalization.
Swanky condos with eye-popping price tags take over historic SLC building.
March 7, 2026
Salt Lake County
The 114-year-old Hyland Exchange Building at 847 S. 800 East in Salt Lake City's 9th and 9th neighborhood has been adaptively reused as Telegraph Exchange Lofts, featuring six luxury condominiums inside the restored historic structure alongside 17 newly built town homes. Developer ClearWater Homes invested more than $3 million in seismic retrofits and restored the building's original red brick exterior, stairwells, and gargoyle flourishes. Units are priced between $1.6 million and $3.55 million.
Breaking: Firefighters battle blaze at Chimayo restaurant on Park City’s Main Street
March 5, 2026
Summit County
A fire broke out early Thursday morning at Chimayo restaurant, a longtime fixture at 368 Main St in Old Town Park City. Park City Fire District crews responded as smoke billowed from the building's roof, with initial reports suggesting the blaze may have started as a grease fire that burned upward through the structure. Bill White Enterprises, a local hospitality group with several restaurants on Historic Main Street, operates Chimayo. The cause is under investigation, and the full extent of damage to the historic Main Street building has not yet been determined.
Fire breaks out overnight at Main Street restaurant
March 5, 2026
Summit County
A fire broke out overnight at Chimayo restaurant, a longtime Main Street staple at 368 Main St in Old Town Park City, with Park City Fire District crews still on scene Thursday morning as smoke continued to rise from the building. Approximately 10 firefighters worked from both Main Street and Swede Alley, with a ladder and hoses deployed on the building's north side. A section of Historic Main Street was closed to traffic between the Egyptian Theatre and the post office. The restaurant has announced it will be closed for an undetermined period. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Why Salt Lake City wants to rezone senior center nearly nixed by county
March 4, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City has initiated a rezoning request for the 10th East Senior Center at 237 S. 1000 East, aiming to consolidate the property's awkward split between three zoning designations — single-family and two-family residential, a special development pattern residential district, and public lands — into a single public lands zone. City planners say the unusual zoning, likely in place for decades, could complicate any future additions or modifications to the site. The center is currently closed for a $10 million renovation. It is on track to reopen in early 2027, after Salt Lake County reversed a controversial 5-4 vote to close it following community pushback. A 45-day public comment period closes April 16, after which the proposal moves to the Salt Lake City Planning Commission and City Council for review.
Helper, Utah’s Comeback: Vintage Motor Company, Historic Preservation, and Stay Helper
March 3, 2026
Carbon County
A new spotlight on Helper highlights how preservation and small-scale investment are helping reshape the historic Carbon County town. Projects like Vintage Motor Company, a museum created from decades of motorcycle collecting, and Stay Helper, a group of restored historic lodging properties, are drawing visitors and encouraging renewed activity along Main Street. Supporters say the approach focuses on restoring existing buildings and maintaining the town’s mid-century character rather than replacing it—demonstrating how preservation can play a central role in small-town revitalization.
Preservation Utah seeks state’s 2026 most endangered places
March 3, 2026
Statewide
Preservation Utah is inviting the public to nominate historic buildings, neighborhoods, districts, and cultural resources for the 2026 Most Endangered Places List. The annual list highlights places at risk from demolition, neglect, redevelopment pressures, or loss of stewardship, bringing attention and advocacy to sites that matter to local communities. The program aims to raise awareness and mobilize support for preservation efforts across the state.
You can rent this historic building for your next event!
February 24, 2026
Washington County
The Pioneer Courthouse — also known as the Old Washington County Courthouse, built in 1876 and a standout example of 19th-century civic architecture — has been given new life as a community and event space. After restoration revealed original features like wood floors, adobe walls, and rafters, the historic St. George landmark now serves as the headquarters for the nonprofit United We Pledge and is available to rent for weddings, receptions, and other events, helping sustain its preservation and ongoing use.
Salt Lake City: Two new restaurants offering omakase experiences are coming to the downtown area
February 21, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City’s downtown dining scene is expanding with two new omakase-style Japanese restaurants on the way. A new Sushi by Bou location — known for its intimate, chef-driven omakase tasting menus — is slated to open this March in the historic Peery Hotel. Meanwhile, acclaimed Austin-based concept Uchi will bring elevated Japanese cuisine and omakase to the city’s Granary District in 2027, housed in a historic building as part of a mixed-use redevelopment project. These additions reflect growing interest in chef-led experiences and urban revitalization of Salt Lake City’s restaurant scene.
Provo Community Congregational United Church of Christ celebrates 135 years
February 19, 2026
Utah County
The Provo Community Congregational United Church of Christ is marking 135 years of faith, service, and community impact in downtown Provo. Founded in 1891, the historic church has long served as a center for worship, community programs, and civic engagement. The milestone was celebrated with special events recognizing the congregation’s enduring legacy in Utah Valley.
Park City Museum is first in Utah to become Smithsonian affiliate
February 16, 2026
Summit County
The Park City Historical Society & Museum has been designated a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, becoming the first and only Smithsonian-affiliate museum in Utah. After a year-and-a-half application process, the museum joins a nationwide network of over 200 cultural institutions, opening doors to expanded programming, expert collaboration, and the ability to bring Smithsonian exhibits and resources to local audiences. Museum leaders say the affiliation will enhance educational offerings, broaden community engagement, and further support preservation of Park City’s rich history.
Historic Utah mansion could get more rehab money as it inches toward reopening
February 15, 2026
Salt Lake County
The historic Albert Fisher Mansion and Carriage House, a Victorian landmark designed by noted architect Richard K.A. Kletting and long a part of Salt Lake City’s brewing and architectural history, is moving closer to rehabilitation after years of vacancy and earthquake damage in 2020. City officials are seeking additional funding — including a proposed $400,000 allocation from the Salt Lake City Council — to support ongoing restoration efforts and help bring the mansion back into productive use. The project builds on prior stabilization work and reflects renewed momentum to preserve this significant historic structure on the city’s west side.
Abravanel Hall to get new life in SLC while other downtown blocks are razed for LDS Temple parking.
February 12, 2026
Salt Lake County
As Salt Lake City undergoes major downtown transformation — including demolition of nearby blocks such as the former Salt Lake Plaza Hotel for Salt Lake Temple open house parking ahead of 2027 — conversations about the future of Abravanel Hall have intensified. While redevelopment plans reshape adjacent parcels and public infrastructure, local leaders, advocates, and cultural organizations are emphasizing the hall’s ongoing role as a vital arts and performance venue. This renewed focus on Abravanel Hall’s place in the evolving urban core comes alongside its recognition on the National Register of Historic Places, underscoring its architectural and cultural importance even as change unfolds around it.
Abravanel Hall to remain a ‘cultural anchor’ in Utah’s future as its past is celebrated
February 12, 2026
Salt Lake County
Abravanel Hall will remain a key cultural anchor in downtown Salt Lake City even as future renovations and broader redevelopment plans unfold. County leaders, artists, and community members gathered to celebrate the hall’s historic designation and unveil a plaque recognizing its place on the National Register of Historic Places. Salt Lake County officials stressed that needed upgrades — including improvements to back-of-house areas — will be planned to preserve the hall’s world-class acoustics and enduring role in the region’s arts and cultural life.
Iconic Abravanel Hall celebrates inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
February 11, 2026
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County and arts community leaders marked the official listing of Abravanel Hall on the National Register of Historic Places with a celebration and plaque unveiling earlier this month. The downtown concert hall — long home to the Utah Symphony and admired for its distinctive design and world-class acoustics — received widespread recognition for its architectural and cultural significance. The designation further affirms its role as a cultural anchor in the city’s evolving downtown and opens doors to preservation opportunities as future renovations are planned.
Abravanel Hall celebrates recognition on National Register of Historic Places
February 11, 2026
Salt Lake County
Downtown Salt Lake City’s iconic concert venue, Abravanel Hall, has been officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. Opened in 1979 and home to the Utah Symphony, the hall was later renamed in honor of conductor Maurice Abravanel.
The designation recognizes the building’s architectural and cultural significance and ensures federal review protections for projects that may affect the property—an important milestone as downtown Salt Lake City continues to evolve.
Abravanel Hall to remain a 'cultural anchor' in Utah's future as its past is celebrated
February 11, 2026
Salt Lake County
Abravanel Hall will continue to serve as a key cultural institution in downtown Salt Lake City as leaders honor its historic designation and plan for future upgrades. County officials celebrated the hall’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places with a plaque unveiling. They reaffirmed that the venue will stay central to the community’s cultural life even as surrounding redevelopment and major facility renovations progress. Plans to modernize the back-of-house spaces aim to enhance functionality while preserving the hall’s distinctive, world-class acoustics and historic character.
Will Utah renovate the Huntsman Center instead of building a new arena? Here’s what Mark Harlan said
February 10, 2026
Salt Lake County
The University of Utah is moving forward with plans to renovate the historic Jon M. Huntsman Center, home to Utah Utes basketball, gymnastics, and other events. Rather than building a new arena, university leaders are considering a “renovation-plus” plan that would modernize the facility in its current location, reduce seating capacity from about 15,000 to roughly 9,000, and add more premium spaces to enhance the event experience. The updated proposal also looks to improve accessibility and parking and expand the venue’s use for concerts, expos, and community events as part of the university’s broader campus development strategy. A final plan is expected to be voted on by the Board of Trustees in March.