The Capitol in Utah's Capital - Group 8

Josh Southwick, Sami Crouch, Adam Jones,
Michael May, Jackson Myrick, Hector Zumaeta



Looking out across Salt Lake City, there is one place that catches your eye from almost anywhere – the Capitol building. It is the epitome of what a landmark should be: easily located, used as a point of reference, and, above all, a central component of the city itself. The significance it carries cannot simply be stated as being the meetinghouse of our state’s representatives, but that it is a key part of Salt Lake City and Utah as a whole.

The Capitol stands atop a lush, green hill above the Avenues with the distinct background of the trademark Utah mountains. The building stands out among everything around it with its unique architecture and style. There are Roman columns spaced around the entire structure, and the unmistakable government rotunda at the top gives it a unique look compared to the monotonous rectangular architecture of downtown. Outside the Capitol, there are several monuments and statues dedicated to the history of Utah. On the east, there is a monument depicting the Mormon Battalion, and on the west there is another memorial honoring the Utah veterans who died in the Vietnam War. Around back there is a wide, oval fountain in the courtyard surrounded by flowerbeds, trees, and statues of famous and influential Utahns. As you walk up the Capitol steps, you can turn around and see the entire city of Salt Lake with the distant mountain ranges forming your view of the horizon.


Through the large entry doors the Capitol's interior is revealed, which is no less stunning than its exterior. The seemingly endless view of the city is transformed into a breathtaking sight of the ornate rooms within. On the first floor, a circular opening houses paintings of every governor of Utah around its perimeter. There were also several displays scattered throughout the floor that presented some history of Utah from its first settling to gaining statehood. These exhibits were not only informative, but they provided plenty of visuals to keep observers interested.

While the first floor had its own certain feel, the upper floors were the truly impressive and memorable part of our trip. As you step up to the second floor, the entire space opens to your view and you can see all the way up to the rotunda with its painting of a cloudy blue sky and a flock of seagulls. The elaborate chandelier illuminates the murals that cover the walls leading up to the dome above. Each mural was painted to capture a moment in the life of early Utah settlers. Located in the corners are niche sculptures representing the values important to Utah’s culture, including art and science. A reception room on the second floor was given the nickname, the “Gold Room” for its extravagant art style and complex, gothic architecture. All in all, the Capitol building is equally remarkable on the inside as it is on the outside.

Utah’s Capitol building is one of those places that leaves an impression on you and is something every Utahn must visit at least once. Whether you are there as a boy scout studying the state’s history, a young couple taking photos for their wedding, a family honoring Utah war veterans, or, in our case, university students merely interested in a Salt Lake landmark, the Capitol is a destination that won’t leave you disappointed.