Salt Lake Assembly Hall

Last updated

Salt Lake Assembly Hall
Assembly Hall - Salt Lake City, Utah - 16 May 2020.jpg
Religion
Affiliation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Location
Location Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
Geographic coordinates 40°46′11″N111°53′36″W / 40.7697°N 111.8932°W / 40.7697; -111.8932
Architecture
Architect(s) Obed Taylor
Style Victorian Gothic style
Groundbreaking1877
Completed1882
Materials (Exterior) Quartz monzonite
Detail showing Star of David Salt Lake Assembly Hall Star of David.jpg
Detail showing Star of David
Detail showing marbleizing on balcony support pillar Assembly Hall Pillar.jpg
Detail showing marbleizing on balcony support pillar
Inside Assembly Hall InsideAssemblyhall.jpg
Inside Assembly Hall

The Salt Lake Assembly Hall is a building owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) which sits on the southwest corner of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has seating capacity for an audience of approximately 1,400 people.

Contents

Design

The Assembly Hall is a Victorian Gothic congregation hall. Rough granite walls are laid out in cruciform style making the hall's exterior look like a small gothic cathedral. Twenty-four spires mark the perimeter of the building's footprint and a tower rises from the intersection of the floor plan's apparent crucifix. The cruciform layout is complemented by Stars of David circumscribed high above each entrance. These symbolize an LDS perception that they are a re-gathering of Biblical Tribes of Israel.

However, the deceptively Gothic exterior conceals a more modern interior lacking vaulted ceilings.

Although built of quartz monzonite rock from the same quarry as the Salt Lake Temple, the Assembly Hall's unhewn exterior looks much different. The stones for the Assembly Hall were not cut as exactingly as the temple's. This accounts for the building's dark, rough texture and the broader masonry joints between stones.

The Seagull Monument sits directly in front of the building to the east.

History

Construction of the Assembly Hall began on August 11, 1877. Building began on the southwest corner of Temple Square on the site of what was called the "Old Tabernacle," razed earlier that year. The old structure, an adobe building determined by the LDS Church to be inadequate, was built in 1852 and seated 2500. The "Old Tabernacle" is not to be confused with the still-extant Salt Lake Tabernacle, built in 1867. The domed Tabernacle sits directly north of the Assembly Hall.

During the first two years of construction, the Assembly Hall was confusingly called the "new tabernacle." John Taylor, then president of the church, cleared up the confusion by naming it the "Salt Lake Assembly Hall" in 1879.

Obed Taylor was commissioned as architect, and designed the structure in Victorian Gothic style, which was popular at the time. Using mostly discarded granite stone from the ongoing construction of the Salt Lake Temple, builder Henry Grow completed construction in 1882 at a total cost of $90,000.

After the Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall was the second permanent structure completed on Temple Square. It has been modified several times since completion, however. A four-foot flying-angel weather vane like one that topped the original Nauvoo Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois was removed. Additionally, the original ceiling murals depicting ancient and modern prophets in the LDS Church were painted over.

The most comprehensive renovations occurred from 1979 to 1983 to correct structural weaknesses in the building's tower and roof trusses. While rebuilding the tower, each of the Assembly Hall's 24 spires were replaced with fiberglass moldings. Additionally, all the softwood benches were refinished. Acoustics in the building were enhanced by installing hundreds of small speakers.

Currently, the Assembly Hall hosts occasional free weekend music concerts and is used as overflow for the church's biannual general conferences.

Panorama from South Temple Street taken in 1912 Temple Square 1912 panorama.jpg
Panorama from South Temple Street taken in 1912

Organs

During the renovations of the 1970-80s, Robert L. Sipe Organbuilders installed a new three-manual, 65-rank, 3,489 pipe organ with a "German accent." [1] [2] The renovations also included creation of rehearsal studios in the building's basement containing three additional organs and a one-manual harpsichord built in 1981 by William Dowd. [3] The southwest practice studio features a three-manual, 12-rank, 727 pipe organ built by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The console was built in 1963, while the chests and pipework were redone in 1982 [4] The southeast studio organ was built by the Kenneth Coulter Organ Company of Eugene, Oregon in 1985, the Bach tricentennial year. It was specifically designed to imitate features of German Late Baroque organs and features three manuals, 7 ranks, and 410 pipes. [4] The northeast practice studio organ was built in 1979 by the Casavant Frères organ company of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec [5] It is a mechanical action instrument and features interchangeable pedalboards, allowing for the use of either a modern concave design or the older flat European style. It has two manuals, seven ranks, and 452 pipes.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Grow</span> American architect

Henry Grow, Jr. was a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) builder and civil engineer in pioneer-era Utah. His most notable achievement was aiding the construction of the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Grow engineered the meeting hall's unique elongated dome roof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Lake Temple</span> LDS temple in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At 253,015 square feet (23,505.9 m2), it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area. Dedicated in 1893, it is the sixth temple completed by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. The temple was closed in December 2019 for a general remodelling and seismic renovations, which were initially estimated to take approximately four years. Subsequent updates extended the estimated completion to 2026, for a total renovation timeline lasting an anticipated six or seven years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Square</span> United States historic place

Temple Square is a 10-acre (4.0 ha) complex, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square. Contained within Temple Square are the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors' centers. The square was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, recognizing the Mormon achievement in the settlement of Utah.

William Harrison Folsom was an architect and contractor. He constructed many of the historic buildings in Utah, particularly in Salt Lake City. Many of his most prominent works were commissioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For a time he was sustained as the Church Architect, a calling in the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nauvoo Illinois Temple</span> Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the third such temple that has been built in Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LDS Conference Center</span> LDS General Conference Meetingplace

The Conference Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the premier meeting hall for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Completed in 2000, the 21,000-seat Conference Center replaced the traditional use of the nearby Salt Lake Tabernacle, built in 1868, for the church's biannual general conference and other major gatherings, devotionals, and events. It is believed to be the largest theater-style auditorium ever built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Lake Tabernacle</span> Building in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Salt Lake Tabernacle, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, in the U.S. state of Utah. The Tabernacle was built from 1863 to 1875 to house meetings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the location of the church's semi-annual general conference until the meeting was moved to the new and larger LDS Conference Center in 2000. Now a historic building on Temple Square, the Salt Lake Tabernacle is still used for overflow crowds during general conference. It is renowned for its remarkable acoustics and iconic pipe organ. The Tabernacle Choir has performed there for over 100 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nauvoo Temple</span> Second temple constructed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States, in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois, in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848. The building was damaged by arson and a tornado before being demolished.

<i>Music & the Spoken Word</i> American radio and television program

Music & the Spoken Word is a religious radio and television series. Broadcast weekly from the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah, the program primarily features performances of music by Tabernacle Choir (Choir)—often accompanied by the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ and the Orchestra at Temple Square. The program also includes spiritual messages and passages related to a specific episode's theme, presented by Derrick Porter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Smith Memorial Building</span> Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building, originally called the Hotel Utah, is a social center located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. It is named in honor of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. It houses several restaurants and also functions as a venue for events. Several levels of the building also serve as administrative offices for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints departments such as FamilySearch. On January 3, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Hotel Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. George Utah Temple</span> Latter-day Saint Temple in St. George, Utah

The St. George Utah Temple, formerly known as the St. George Temple, is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah. Completed in 1877, it was the third temple constructed by the church and the first in Utah, following the westward migration of members from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of church founder Joseph Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Utah Temple</span> Temple in Logan, Utah

The Logan Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was completed in 1884 and is the fourth temple built by the church. Located in the city of Logan, Utah, it was the second temple in Utah, after the St. George Temple. It was built on a 9-acre (3.6 ha) plot selected by church president Brigham Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogden Utah Temple</span> Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple

The Ogden Utah Temple is the sixteenth constructed and fourteenth operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Ogden, Utah, it was originally built with a modern, single-spire design, similar to the Provo Utah Temple. The temples in Ogden and Provo were designed to be sister temples and are the only ones dedicated by church president Joseph Fielding Smith. The temple became the church’s fifth in Utah, and second along the Wasatch Front, dedicated almost 79 years after the Salt Lake Temple. It was the first to be dedicated in the state of Utah, as the previous ones were dedicated when Utah was still a territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple architecture (LDS Church)</span>

On December 27, 1832, two years after the organization of the Church of Christ, the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, stated he received a revelation that called upon church members to restore the practice of temple worship. The Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio were commanded to:

"Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Lake Tabernacle organ</span> Pipe organ in Salt Lake City, Utah, US

The Salt Lake Tabernacle organ is a pipe organ located in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. Along with the nearby Conference Center organ, it is typically used to accompany the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and is also featured in daily noon recitals. It is one of the largest organs in the world. Jack Bethards, president and tonal director of Schoenstein & Co., describes it as an "American classic organ" and "probably one of the most perfect organs ever built."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schoenstein Organ at the Conference Center</span> Pipe organ in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

The Schoenstein Organ at the Conference Center is a pipe organ built by Schoenstein & Co., San Francisco, California located in the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. The organ was completed in 2003. It is composed of 160 speaking stops spread over five manuals and pedals. Along with the nearby Salt Lake Tabernacle organ, it is typically used to accompany the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Schoenstein & Co.'s president and tonal director, Jack Bethards, describes it as "an American Romantic organ" that is "probably more English than anything else."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse</span> Historic church in Utah, United States

Built in 1909, the Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse is a historic building in Murray, Utah, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The building is significant for its association with the history and development of Murray between 1909 and 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Tabernacle</span> Historic church in Utah, United States

The Logan Tabernacle is a tabernacle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is located in Logan, Cache County, Utah. It is used regularly for church meetings, most often semi-annual stake conferences, seminary graduations, musical concerts, and lectures. The tabernacle welcomes visitors and is open for tours each summer from June to September. It is the site of many local celebrations, including the city's annual Summerfest Arts Faire held each June on the tabernacle grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Provo Tabernacle</span> Historic church in Utah, United States

The Provo Tabernacle was a tabernacle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to 2010 in downtown Provo, Utah, United States. It was a historic icon of Provo and had been home to many religious and cultural events. All but the outer walls of the building were destroyed by fire in December 2010. The LDS Church preserved the remaining outer walls and built a new foundation and interior as part of the Provo City Center Temple, completed in 2016.

The Pioneer Style was a popular style of Utahn architecture most utilized during the years 1847 to 1890. The pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons, trekked west into the Utah Territory to seek refuge from religious persecution in the mid-Western and Eastern United States. Because the Latter-day Saints were some of the earliest and significant settlers in the Utah area, the foundational architecture in Utah is largely influenced by these early settlers. Architecture in Utah is highly religious, consisting of temples and church meetinghouses, and European-influenced due to the origins of many of the settlers. Members of the Church valued the institution of education, an idea they carried with them from the Northern States, which resulted in many schools being established for their children. Entertainment was another highly appreciated and valued aspect among the early members of the Church which resulted in the establishment of many theatres and music halls.

References

  1. "Pipedreams: Some Latter Day Sounds". American Public Media. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  2. "Assembly Hall".
  3. Elliott, Richard. "Assembly Hall Practice Studios" . Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Piping Up! First Anniversary Organ Concert". The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  5. "Pipedreams: Beyond the Tabernacle (26 July 2010)". American Public Media. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
Listen to this article (4 minutes)
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 15 January 2007 (2007-01-15), and does not reflect subsequent edits.