Mining, Railroads, and Growth in Utah

Capitol Hill

• In 1909, years after Utah became the 45th state in the Union, the state legislature approved a seven-man Capitol Commission to oversee the design and construction of a state capitol. The budget was set at $2.5 million, but funding remained a problem until 1911 when the state received nearly $800,000 in inheritance taxes from the estate of Union Pacific Railroad president E. H. Harriman. The legislature responded with a $1 million bond, and the project was underway.
• Capitol construction commenced in 1912. The building was completed in 1916.
• A massive renovation project from 2004 to 2008 not only restored the Capitol’s original beauty but also fulfilled many of Kletting’s early visions for the Hill. Today, the Capitol building contains two active legislative chambers, a ceremonial supreme court chamber, and the working offices of top state officials.
• The capitol's architecture was inspired by Classical architecture, and some local newspapers compared the early designs to Greece's Parthenon. Many of the building's details rely on the Corinthian style, in which formality, order, proportion and line are essential design elements.
• The exterior is constructed of Utah granite like other major buildings in the area like the Salt Lake Temple and the LDS Conference Center
• Suspended from the dome's ceiling is the original chandelier weighing 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) (The chain supporting it weighs an additional 1,000 lb

​Mining, Railroads, and Growth

• Cathedral of the Madeleine - The Cathedral of the Madeleine was begun in the year 1900 and completed in 1909. The Cathedral combines a predominately Romanesque exterior with a Gothic interior. Renovations on the exterior took place between 1975 and 1980 including putting a new copper roof on the building, protecting the porous Utah sandstone from further erosion and replacing the gargoyles.
• Mining - Mining for metals, coal, hydrocarbons, and minerals was a vital aspect of Utah's economic, industrial, political, and social growth and development. The mining industry has touched all aspects of life in Utah and has contributed greatly to the state's history.
  • Mormons participated in some mining, but were discouraged by Brigham Young from prospecting in favor of agriculture and to avoid getting drawn into the wealth of the world and to avoid attracting outsiders or “gentiles” to the region
  • That only lasted so long as Colonel Patrick E. Connor and his California and Nevada Volunteers who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in October 1862. Many of these soldiers were experienced prospectors and, with Connor's blessing and prompting, they searched the nearby Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains for gold and silver. In 1863 the first formal claims were located in the Bingham Canyon area, and this spurred further exploration.
• Railroads
  • Essential to the rapid increase in mine production was the further expansion of transportation facilities, including the competition between the Union Pacific and the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroads, which fostered the completion of spur lines and narrow-gauge district lines.
• Wealth
  • All the mining and railroads led to wealth, which led to more people coming to Utah and many of the historical homes we can see in the valley.
  • Buildings
    • Enos Wall Mansion - The Enos Wall Mansion was constructed between 1909-1914 for its freighting and mining namesake and his family. Wall, and his wife, Mary lived in the mansion until their deaths in the 1920s. The mansion was then acquired by the Salt Lake Jewish Center from 1926-1950.
    • David Keith Mansion and Carriage House - Built during 1898–1900. Keith financed and published the Salt Lake Tribune, a local newspaper still operating today
    • Governor’s mansion (Kearns Mansion) - Thomas Kearns made a fortune on the silver flowing out of Park City mines. He spared no expense building a home that became the dazzling center of Utah's elite social life. It was built in 1902. During this period many political and religious dignitaries were guests in the Kearns mansion, including President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a personal friend of Senator Kearns. A world-class restoration completed in 1996 returned the mansion to its original 1902 appearance.
    • Masonic temple - Built in 1927 during a time of Egyptian revivalist architecture, it is the headquarters for Utah masonry.
    • Kahn Mansion - The Emanuel Kahn House was built in 1889**.** Emanuel Kahn, an immigrant from Germany, who was one of the first Jewish merchants in Utah. They started the Kahn Brothers store which became one of the largest grocery stores in Salt Lake City. The house is now a bed and breakfast.
    • McCune Home - McCune made his money primarily in railroads. McCune wanted his home to be an extravagant display and to this end he financed a two-year tour of America and Europe for his architect S. C. Dallas to study designs and techniques. It was built in 1900​
    • Salt Lake Regional Medical Center - Built in 1875, it was one of the first hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley and the only Catholic hospital for almost a century. It was known as Holy Cross Hospital originally.
    • Lighting - Salt Lake was one of the first cities in the west to begin to get power and electricity. In 1881, the Salt Lake City Light, Heat, and Power Company started supplying electricity to light some of Salt Lake City's streets, businesses, and public buildings. You can see some of the original lights on South Temple.