Utah Territorial Statehouse

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Utah Territorial Capitol
Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore Utah.jpg
USA Utah location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Fillmore, Utah
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Coordinates 38°58′06″N112°19′33″W / 38.968297°N 112.325771°W / 38.968297; -112.325771
Built1852–55
Architect Truman O. Angell
Visitation6,615 (2022) [1]
NRHP reference No. 70000625 [2]
Added to NRHPSeptember 22, 1970 [3]

The Utah Territorial Statehouse, officially Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum, is a state park in Fillmore, Utah. The museum and park preserves the original seat of government for Utah Territory before the capital was moved to Salt Lake City in 1856. Built from 1852 to 1855, the statehouse was initially intended as a larger structure, but only the south wing was completed before the project was abandoned due to lack of federal funding. After its construction, the Utah Territorial Legislative Assembly met in the building for only one full session and parts of two others.

Contents

History

In 1851, Mormon leader Brigham Young and a group of lawmakers determined that Fillmore should become the capital of the provisional State of Deseret because of its central location. When the Congress of the United States turned down their petition for statehood and created the Utah Territory instead, Fillmore was designated as its territorial capital.

A model of the Utah Territorial Statehouse as originally conceived by architect Truman O. Angell. The red area represents the portion of the building that was actually completed. Utah Territorial Statehouse model at Iron Mission State Park.jpg
A model of the Utah Territorial Statehouse as originally conceived by architect Truman O. Angell. The red area represents the portion of the building that was actually completed.

The original statehouse building plans called for four wings connected by a Moorish dome at the center, but only the south wing was completed. U.S. President Millard Fillmore had helped secure the first $20,000 for construction, but could not help the territory secure additional funding after he lost the next election. (Both Fillmore and the county in which it sits, Millard County, were named in honor of President Fillmore.) In 1856, after housing its first and only full session, the Territorial Statehouse was abandoned by the territorial Legislative Assembly in favor of a return to Utah's largest city, Salt Lake City. [4]

By the early 20th century, the building was vacant, decaying and threatened with demolition. During the 1920s, the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) proposed restoring the statehouse to serve as a history museum. Under the direction of the Utah State Park and Recreation Commission, the museum opened in 1930 and was placed in the custodial care of the DUP. The statehouse and grounds became a state park in 1957. Today, the Territorial Statehouse serves as a museum which contains many artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Two restored cabins and a pioneer stone schoolhouse are also located on the grounds.

Utah's governor, Jon Huntsman, Jr. delivered his State of the State address from the Territorial Statehouse in 2005 while the State Capitol was undergoing renovations. The State of the State address in 2005 was the first official use of the Territorial Statehouse for a Utah Governmental Function since 1856.

The exterior

An architectural drawing by Truman O. Angell of the original design for the Utah Territorial Statehouse. Architectural drawing of Utah Territorial Statehouse.jpg
An architectural drawing by Truman O. Angell of the original design for the Utah Territorial Statehouse.

Because they expected the red stone exterior to be covered with stucco, the stoneworkers who constructed the statehouse carved their initials into several of the stones on the outside of the building. Those initials are still visible today. The south exterior wall bears a plaque from the National Register of Historic Places. According to the plaque, the building was used by the 5th, 6th and 8th Legislatures who served in 1855, 1856, and 1858 respectively. There is also a plaque from the Daughters of Utah Pioneers dated August 3, 1935 that reads:

Creating Fillmore City and Millard County the territorial legislature of Utah selected Pahvant Valley as capitol site Oct. 29, 1851. This spot was selected by Governor Brigham Young. Construction work began in 1852. Truman O. Angell, architect and Anson Call, supervisor. This south wing was used by the Fifth Territorial Legislature Oct. 10, 1855. In 1856 the seat of government was moved to Salt Lake City. Later used as court house and county headquarters. Restored in 1928 and dedicated as state museum July 24, 1930. Custodians; Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

The interior

An historic printing press displayed in the statehouse, which once printed the Deseret News. Deseret News Printing Press Territorial Statehouse.jpg
An historic printing press displayed in the statehouse, which once printed the Deseret News .

The basement

The basement currently contains several exhibits, including:

The first floor

The first floor consists of a hallway and several rooms. Some of the rooms are described below:

Second floor of the Territorial Statehouse The Second Floor of the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore.jpg
Second floor of the Territorial Statehouse

The second floor

The second floor consists of the Assembly Hall where the territorial legislature met. The Assembly Hall contains a piano, a podium and several chairs. It also contains maps showing the location and size of the Utah Territory.

See also

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References

  1. "Park Visitation Data". Utah State Parks. July 6, 2023.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. Smith, Melvin T. (July 1, 1970). National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Utah Territorial Capitol (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. Accompanying 2 photos, from 1970 (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Inventory (Report).
  4. "Acts, Resolutions and Memorials, Passed at the Several Annual Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah, from 1851 to 1870 Inclusive". 1870, Acts, Resolutions and Memorials, Passed at the Several Annual Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah, from 1851 to 1870 Inclusive. J. Willard Marriott Library. 1870. Retrieved October 29, 2014.