City Creek

City Creek was Salt Lake City's first tap. Out of its canyon it split into branches that threaded the young city, one crossing this block on its way to the Jordan River, and settlers built homes, shops, and footbridges along its banks. But every spring the snowmelt came down hard, and after a bad flood in 1853 the city gave up on the natural channel: it herded both branches into a single ditch down North Temple, straight to the Jordan. The old creek bed was built over and, in time, forgotten.

What the plaque says

As City Creek flowed out of the canyon, it split into two main branches one of which ran through the western part of this block continuing on to the south of the city where it joined other creeks before reaching the Jordan River. As the city grew, residents constructed bridges across the creek to allow the passage of traffic and built houses and stores along its banks. Each spring brought a heavy run-off from the melting snow in the mountains, often causing property damage for those near the creek. After particularly heavy flooding in 1853, the city consolidated both creek branches into a wide ditch down the center of North Temple Street to contain flooding. The water went directly from the mouth of City Creek Canyon to the Jordan River. The growing city soon obliterated the original creek bed and its original course was largely forgotten. Caption: City Creek as it was diverted down North Temple

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Salt Lake City — steps away
  Utah's capital and largest city — where the Wasatch Range meets the Great Salt Lake.
• Temple Square — steps away
  The spiritual and architectural heart of Salt Lake City
• Ensign Peak — 1.5 mi
  A short hike to the spot where Brigham Young surveyed the valley
• Liberty Park — 1.8 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882

More markers nearby

• Templeton Building — steps away
• Federal Reserve Bank — steps away
• Gardo House — steps away
• The Lion House — steps away