Council Hall

For a plain red-sandstone box, this building saw a startling amount of history. Raised as Salt Lake's city hall between 1864 and 1866 to William Folsom's design, it hosted the founding of the ZCMI cooperative in 1868 and the drafting of the "State of Deseret" constitution in 1872. But its greatest moment came in 1870, when the territorial legislature meeting here granted women the vote — and Seraph Young walked in and cast a ballot, becoming the first woman in the nation to vote under an equal-suffrage law.

What the plaque says

Council Hall, originally called Old City Hall, was erected between 1864 and 1866 and was located on the corner of 120 East and 100 South. Key moments in Utah's early history took place in this historic building. In 1868, Brigham Young founded the Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution. In 1870, the Territorial Legislature passed women's suffrage and Seraph Young voted in this Hall, becoming the nation's first woman to vote under an equal suffrage law. And in 1872, the constitution for the "State of Deseret," the forerunner to the state of Utah, was drafted. Designed by Architect William Folsom in 1863, this red sandstone two-story 60-foot-square building of Federal architectural style cost approximately $70,000 and took two years to complete. It was dedicated on January 8, 1866. Council Hall served as the seat of city government and the Territorial Legislature, housing offices including those of the mayor, recorder, treasurer, city attorney, alderman, and territorial militia. It contained a courtroom, council chamber, territorial library, among other rooms. From 1866 to 1894, the building's large 1,700-pound bell hung in the cupola and sounded alarms for fires and curfews. In 1894, the territorial government moved to the newly-opened Salt Lake City and County Building, allowing Council Hall to be used in a variety of ways, including housing the Salt Lake City police headquarters until 1915, the Board of Health and Sanitary Division offices thereafter, and then as home to the Utah Office of Tourism. In 1961-1962, with funds provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the building was carefully dismantled and reconstructed at this location, with the State of Utah funding its furnishing and landscaping. Two updates were made including the addition of a basement and a sawed sandstone apron around the exterior building perimeter. Council Hall, Old City Hall is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Salt Lake City — 0.4 mi
  Utah's capital and largest city — where the Wasatch Range meets the Great Salt Lake.
• Temple Square — 0.4 mi
  The spiritual and architectural heart of Salt Lake City
• Ensign Peak — 1.0 mi
  A short hike to the spot where Brigham Young surveyed the valley
• Liberty Park — 2.2 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882

More markers nearby

• Old City Hall — steps away
• The 18th Ward Chapel — steps away
• Mormon Battalion Monument — steps away
• Ottinger Hall — steps away