Relief Society Building Built 1857

This adobe hall is the oldest Relief Society building still standing anywhere in the church. The Washington City women raised its main section in 1875 in the Greek Revival style of early Utah, adding a west wing around 1904 to make the L-shape it wears today. Over the years the same walls held a meetinghouse, a post office, a co-op store, apartments, club offices, and a mortuary. The women were shrewd stewards of it: rather than always meet here, they sometimes gathered in members' homes so they could rent the hall out and give the income to the poor.

What the plaque says

The Relief Society Hall's main section was built in 1875 and the west wing about 1904. This makes the present "L" shaped building. Both sections were built of adobes that were produced locally. Its style of architecture is Greek Revival that prevailed in Utah during the early settlement days. It is the only remaining late-nineteenth -century public building in Washington City and is the oldest standing Relief Society Hall in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This building served variously as a meeting house, post office, co-op store, apartment, city and service club offices and mortuary. After this building was built, the Relief Society of Washington held their meetings here but part of the time they met in members' homes. This allowed them to rent part of the building so that the money could be used to help the poor. One of their functions was to prepare the deceased for burial. If a long white board was outside against the building it meant someone had passed on and a funeral would be planned. The members made clothing, quilts, conducted fund raising bazaars and luncheons in this building to raise money to accomplish their goals.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm — 6.6 mi
  Real dinosaur footprints preserved in ancient sandstone
• Snow Canyon State Park — 8.8 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 13 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge
• Grafton Ghost Town — 24 mi
  A photogenic ghost town used in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

More markers nearby

• Washington Cotton Factory — 0.3 mi
• Adair Spring The Birthplace Of Utah's dixie Washington City Utah — 0.3 mi
• Adair Spring — 0.3 mi
• Temple Timber Trail — 0.3 mi