2 Best Sights in Salt Lake City, Utah

Background Illustration for Sights

Start with a stroll around the city center, making sure to stop at the architecturally impressive Temple Square, the heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within blocks, you’ll find museums, theaters, historic buildings, and shopping havens, including the Gateway and Center outdoor malls. Then, branch out into the surrounding neighborhoods to capture more of the flavor of the city.

Then, branch out into the surrounding neighborhoods to capture more of the flavor of the city. Like most Utah municipalities, Salt Lake City is based on a grid plan that was devised by Brigham Young in the 19th century. Most street names have a directional and a numerical designation, which describes their location in relation to one of two axes. Streets with "East" or "West" in their names are east or west of (and parallel to) Main Street, which runs north–south; and "North" and "South" streets run parallel to South Temple Street.

The numbers tell how far the streets are from the axes. (For example, 200 East Street is two blocks east of Main Street.) Addresses typically include two directional references and two numerical references—320 East 200 South Street, for instance, is within the east 300 block of 200 South Street. Generally, in speech and in written addresses, abbreviations shorten these to, for example, 320 E. 200 S or South; the word "street" is never used. Three of Salt Lake's most prominent streets are named after the Mormon Temple: North Temple, South Temple, and West Temple, indicating that the streets run parallel to the north, south, and west borders of Temple Square. Main Street borders the Square's east side.

Salt Lake City Public Library

Fodor's Choice

Designed by Moshe Safdie and built in 2003, this spectacular contemporary structure has become the city's cultural center and one of the country's most architecturally noteworthy libraries. Inspired by the Roman Coliseum, it features a six-story walkable wall that serves as both sculpture and function, allowing for great views and a path up the building. From the rooftop garden you get a 360-degree view of the valley and mountains. Hemingway Café (the on-site branch of the Salt Lake Roasting Co. coffeehouse), the outstanding Art at the Main gallery, a handful of shops, a writing center, and a public radio station provide ways to spend the entire day here. Kids can fall in love with reading in the Crystal Cave and Treehouse Room in the huge children's section. Other noteworthy features include a Teen Lounge, an extensive Alternative Press/Zine Collection, and a collection of beehives on the rooftop where visitors can learn about beekeeping and honey harvesting. There are several other libraries in the system, including the Tudor-style Sprague Library that opened in 1928 in the city's popular Sugar House neighborhood.

Family History Library

This four-story library houses the world's largest collection of genealogical data, including books, maps, and census information. Mormons and non-Mormons alike come here to research their family history.