John A. Widtsoe Building

The building nearly didn't survive its first winter. Opened in 1901 as the Physical Science Building, it was gutted by fire on the night of December 19 that same year—only the sandstone foundation and brick walls left standing—and rebuilt by the next fall. It carries the name of John A. Widtsoe, an agricultural scientist who wrote the university's first constitution, ran two Utah universities, and finished his career as a Latter-day Saint apostle. Today it holds mathematics, a science building turned over, at last, to numbers.

What the plaque says

John A. Widtsoe Building Norwegian-born John Andreas Widtsoe received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University. He became president of the University of Utah in 1916, after serving as teacher and administrator at Utah State Agricultural College and Brigham Young University. He was widely known as a chemist and agricultural reclamation scientist, as well as a seasoned administrator. His term as president, which continued until 1921, spanned the World War I years. Among his accomplishments were setting University rules and regulations in order, reorganizing liberal education and its requirements, strengthening the faculty by attracting outstanding scholars from Eastern schools and by encouraging outstanding younger members to earn doctorates. Construction of this building was begun in 1899. In 1901 the building was nearly destroyed by fire. Only the foundation and walls were left standing. Fortunately these were in good condition and by the opening of school in 1902 the building and contents had been restored or replaced. Past users of the building have come primarily from the sciences, with chemistry, physics and mathematics taught here by several generations of the University faculty. In ceremonies sponsored by the Alumni Association in June, 1976, the building was officially named for John A. Widtsoe.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Red Butte Garden — 1.3 mi
  A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views
• Natural History Museum of Utah — 1.5 mi
  A world-class museum built into the foothills above Salt Lake City
• Gilgal Sculpture Garden — 1.9 mi
  A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood
• Liberty Park — 2.0 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882

More markers nearby

• Leroy E. Cowles Building — steps away
• Gardner Hall — steps away
• U.S.S. Utah Bell and Plaque — steps away
• John Rockey Park Statue — steps away