Manti City Hall

In November 1873 the Manti council voted to begin its city hall "without delay" — but delay is what followed. Nearly nine years later, in 1882, the members thanked the building committee for getting just enough of it finished to meet in. Built for about $1,100 of rock cut and dressed by George Billings, it carries the boxy massing, low hip roof, and bracketed eaves of the Italianate style, rarely seen in rural Utah. It remains one of the oldest surviving city halls in the state, still standing below the Manti Temple.

What the plaque says

November 3, 1873, the Manti City Council under Mayor A. W. Bessey, "Motioned and carried that work on the City Hall be commenced without delay," and May 1, 1882, "The council tendered a vote of thanks to the building committees for their energetic labors in getting a portion of the hall far enough completed to be used by the council." The cost of the building was approximately $1,100. A. E. Merriam drew the plans. George Billings cut and dressed the rock. Andrew Van Buren and Christian Larsen were the masons. John Wilson, John Lemon, Thomas Hoggan, and John Buchanan were the carpenters. William G. Peacock made and erected the flagpole on the roof. The box-like massing, low-pitched hip roof, and bracketed eaves of this building articulate the Italiante style, rarely found in rural Utah. It is one of the oldest remaining city hall buildings in Utah.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Manti Temple — steps away
  A striking pioneer-era temple crowning a hilltop above the Sanpete Valley
• Manti — 0.2 mi
  Sanpete's first settlement, crowned by an 1888 oolite temple
• Palisade State Park — 4.5 mi
  A pioneer-built lake turned central Utah's favorite state park
• Sterling — 5.9 mi
  A highway hamlet and the doorway to Palisade State Park

More markers nearby

• Pioneer Memorial Cabin — steps away
• The John Patton House (2) Markers — steps away
• Manti Carnegie Library — 0.2 mi
• Manti Bell Tower — 0.3 mi