Thursday, September 2, 2010

Looking for Volunteers for Capitol Discovery Day

The Capitol Preservation board will be presenting Capitol Discovery Day on the 18th of September. This is an event in which children, families, and all Utah citizens can experience the history and future of the Capitol. We will be looking for 20+ volunteers to help with a variety of volunteer opportunities during the event.

Volunteer duties would include:
1. Instructing children, families, and other individuals on the history of the Capitol.
2. Helping children with activities such as sculpting and constructing gum-drop domes.
3. Takedown and setup. Lifting should be limited to 50 lbs.

There will be three volunteer shifts available. We will be looking for five (5) volunteers from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., five (5) volunteers for 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and ten (10) volunteers from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Volunteers can dress casual but attire should be clean and appropriate for the setting. There will be light refreshments for the volunteers and they will be able to have a lunch break (volunteers would need to bring a lunch.) We may be accepting more than 20 volunteers so no need to worry if you get more than 20 people who express interest.

For more information please visit the link below or contact Mark Sim at msim@utah.gov.

http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/VolunteerOpportunity/203554-293/c

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Allyson Gamble appointed Executive Director, Capitol Preservation Board

SALT LAKE CITY -- Allyson Gamble has been appointed the Executive Director of the Capitol Preservation Board. The Capitol Preservation Board approved Gamble's appointment at its meeting on July 19, 2010.

A working group of the Board recommended that Ms. Gamble be appointed as the Executive Director. The Board accepted the Division of Facilities Construction and Management's offer to perform the Board's accounting functions resulting in a reduction of one FTE. The recommendations were unanimously adopted by the Capitol Preservation Board.


The Executive Director's responsibilities include maintenance, restoration and long range plans for the seven buildings and grounds of the Utah Capitol Complex. The Executive Director also oversees the capitol visitor services program, event and space scheduling, food services and the Capitol gift store.


Ms. Gamble was appointed Acting Interim Director of the Capitol Preservation Board in January, 2010 following the resignation of David Hart. She had been the Director of Communications & Visitor Services.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Kennecott Theater present The Blindside


Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


The Blindside


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show The Blindside this Thursday, August 26, 2010 as our finale of the Movie Under the Stars series. The 2010 movie series has featured a total of nine movies throughout the summer. The movie will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. The pre-show entertainment will provided by The Little Big Band, a band directed by Caleb Chapmen.


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery..


The synopsis: Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!


Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


Monsters vs. Aliens


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Monsters vs. Aliens this Thursday, August 19, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This weeks performers will be John Allred and Neil Smith.


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery..


The synopsis: When a meteorite crashes in California on Susan Murphy's (Reese Witherspoon) wedding day, Susan is struck by a dose of otherworldly quantonium, her bridal glow becomes decidedly green, and she suddenly swells to a gargantuan 49 feet-11 inches tall. The Feds swoop in and whisk her away from husband-to-be Derek (Paul Rudd) to a government concealment agency where they dub her Ginormica and leave her to bemoan her losses and spend the rest of her days with strange creatures. Next, Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson), ruler of an alien civilization, sends a huge robot to attack Modesto, Calif., to recover the quantonium released by the fallen meteorite. Under the ineffective leadership of President Hathaway (Stephen Colbert), the government embraces General W. R. Monger's (Kiefer Sutherland) suggestion to pit the imprisoned monsters against the robot in exchange for their freedom. The monsters are no match for the robot until Susan begins to really believe in her own abilities and embrace the power of her friendship with the other monsters.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

The Kennecott Theater presents: The Twilight Saga: New Moon


Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


The Twilight Saga: New Moon


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Twilight's New Moon this Thursday, August 12, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This weeks performers will be Miss Utah and Miss Teen Utah.


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.


In the second installment of Stephenie Meyer' s phenomenally successful Twilight series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of - only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

The Kennecott Theater presents: The World's Fastest Indian (Starring Anthony Hopkin


Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


The World's Fastest Indian (Starring Anthony Hopkins)


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show The World's Fastest Indian this Thursday, August 5, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This weeks performers will be Katie Dellenbach, Jarrett Burns, and Ryan Innes.


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.


The synopsis: Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins), a Kiwi from far south New Zealand has been building and rebuilding his motorcycle for the last 40 years, dreaming of the day when he and the bike can go to Bonneville Salt Flats, USA and see what they can really do. When Burt's heart goes bad on him, his dreaming is threatened to come to an end. Burt is not ready to stop dreaming. He decides to mortgage his house and bring his dream to life. He and the motorcycle head for American and the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah to participate in 'Speed Week'. When they land in in the US the fun begins. His journey from Long Beach to Utah brings him through a cross section of American 'characters'. Each recognizes in Burt, that burning desire to achieve a dream and each helps him in the way that they can to make that dream happen.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol! Park on the east side of the capitol in visitor parking.

Kennecott Theater presents The Goonies



Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


The Goonies


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show The Goonies this Thursday, July 29, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This weeks performer will be Stark Raven - One of Utah's premier Rock and Blues bands.


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery..


Plot: The Goonies (a band of young boys) are spending their last weekend hanging around their hometown, before it's razed for yuppie developers. Then Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) uncovers a treasure map hidden in an old painting, and becomes obsessed with finding the lost treasure of the pirate One-Eyed Willie. With that treasure, they could save their town. But the hunt for treasure sends the Goonies, Mikey's long-suffering teenage brother (Josh Brolin), and a pair of teenage girls (Kerri Green and Martha Plimpton) into dangerous proximity to the murderous fugitives, the Fratellis. With the Fratellis on their tail, the Goonies are determinedly navigating the underground, booby-trap-infested tunnels that lead to the treasure -- or to a very nasty demise.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

Kennecott Theater presents Forever Strong



Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:


Forever Strong


The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Forever Strong, a home-grown utah-made movie, as our fourth film this Thursday, July 22, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This week's performers will be The Riverdale City Band


We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.


Thanks to the Salt Lake Community College Culinary Arts program, concessions will be available for purchase! This includes drinks and snacks. The consession stand will be located to the northwest of the film site, near the Vietnam Memorial.

Forever Strong was filmed in Salt Lake City beginning in August 2006 at three local high schools. Several All-American rugby players, predominantly from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, played in the film. Some Highland Rugby alumni and current players also played roles in the film.

Forever Strong is based on an amalgam of true stories about the Highland Rugby high school team. The character Rick Penning is based on a real member of the rugby team who played in Flagstaff, Arizona and was sent to a group home in Salt Lake City. The story attracted the production company Go Films. The film name "Forever Strong" is taken from the team motto of the Highland Rugby high school. "Forever Strong".


Plot: Rick Penning (Faris) lives life just like he plays rugby; fast, hard-hitting and intense. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate (Astin) offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for his rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule and unique code of conduct that Coach Gelwix (Cole) enforces, or finish out the season behind bars. Egos clash as bitter competitors struggle to become a team. An unlikely brotherhood is formed with his Highland teammates, just as Rick is released from jail and sent back home to rejoin his former team, coached by his overbearing father (McDonough). Heading into a faceoff with Highland at the National Championship, Rick is forced to choose where his loyalty lies.


We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

Kennecott Theater presents Planet 51


Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:

Planet 51

The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Planet 51 as our third film this Thursday, July 15, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature a total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public.

We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors: Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.

There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film.

Film Synopsis: When Chuck the astronaut (Dwayne Johnson) lands on a distant planet filled with little green people, he is surprised to discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. But he gets the shock of his life when the residents of Planet 51 mistakenly believe that his presence is the start of an alien invasion of the human kind! Luckily, Lem (Justin Long) quickly realizes that Chuck is friendly and makes it his personal mission to help him return safely to his ship

Thanks to the Salt Lake Community College Culinary Arts program, concessions will be available for purchase! This includes drinks and snacks. The consession stand will be located to the northwest of the film site, near the Vietnam Memorial.

We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Kennecott Theater Presents: Legally Blonde 2







Kennecott Theater presentes Movie Under The Stars Series:


Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde




The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Legally Blonde 2, a home-grown utah-made movie, as our second film this Thursday, July 8, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public.




We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsor's; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.


There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film.




Even though the movie took place in Washington, D.C., the movie was filmed in Illinois and Utah. In Utah, the filmiming took place in the offices at Energy Solutions Arena and the Utah State Capitol.




Reese Witherspoon is back as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. Now Elle is juggling a demanding career as a rising young lawyer as well as preparations for her wedding to the man of her dreams. But when she stands up for the rights of the other guy in her life - Bruiser, her chihuahua - Elle is fired from her job. She's devastated, but you can't keep an optimist down. Ms. Woods goes to Washington to take matters into her own well-manicured hands. Trying to learn the political ropes and win over self-serving politicians, Elle faces a formidable challenge. But with her clever and sassy signature blend of determination and intelligence, she bucks the system the Elle Woods way, inspiring those around her to find a voice of their own.



We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Movie Under The Stars: The Sandlot


Movie Under The Stars Series Opener: The Sandlot

The Capitol Preservation Board is excited about the beginning of the Movie Under the Stars film series this Thursday, July 1, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature nine movies Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the publlic.

We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto and our other sponsor's; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film.

We are featuring a home-grown utah-made film as our opener: The Sandlot
The Utah Film Locations include:The Farr Park Pool - Ogden, Midvale, Ogden, Rose Park, Salt Lake City, and State Street in American Fork

The Sandlot is a 1993 American comedy-drama sports film about a group of young baseball players during the summer of 1963. The story is narrated by Scotty Smalls, the shy new kid on the block who wants to join the rowdy pickup baseball team that plays every day in the neighborhood sandlot. But he doesn't know how to catch a baseball, and his stepfather is too busy to teach him. He tries out for the sandlot gang anyway, and though he isn't very good, it turns out he's lucky: there happen to be only eight of them, and nine makes a team. The summer passes blissfully as Scotty learns to play ball under the wing of Benny Rodriguez, the oldest and best player, as well as Ham, Squints, Repeat, and the rest of the kid-eccentrics. The skies darken, however, when Benny literally knocks the stuffing out of the team's only baseball, a sign of impending doom, or worse, bad luck. Wanting to set things right, Scotty returns home and "borrows" his stepfather's ball, which he promptly uses to hit his first home run, knocking the ball clear out of the sandlot into mean old Mr. Mertle junkyard, home to Mertle's legendary guard dog The Beast. Scotty admits that he took the ball without asking, and he naively explains that his stepfather will want it back since it had a woman's name written on it: some lady named Babe Ruth Horror-stricken, the sandlot gang mobilizes to fetch the autographed ball from the clutches of The Beast. . .

Monday, June 28, 2010

Movie Under the Star's Press Release

Rio Tinto revives Kennecott Theater with summer outdoor films
Rio Tinto sponsors MOVIES UNDER THE STARS at Utah State Capitol & ROCK DOCS at Pioneer Park

June 28, 2010

Salt Lake City, UT -- Beginning July 1 and running until August 27, Rio Tinto is reviving the beloved Kennecott Theater through outdoor film screenings at the Utah State Capitol and at Pioneer Park. Both screening series are free and open to the public. Films begin at dusk. For more information about MOVIES UNDER THE STARS, please visit www.utahstatecapitol.utah.gov or 2010 “Movie Under The Stars” at the Utah State Capitol on Facebook. Screening information about ROCK DOCS can be found at www.slcfilmcenter.org.
“As Utahns, we all cherish our quality of life,” said Kelly Sanders, President & CEO, Kennecott Utah Copper. “The tradition of sitting on a blanket in a park with our neighbors on a beautiful summer night represents Kennecott’s sustainable development vision by actively participating with our local community to promote long-term mutual benefit. Kennecott has been a responsible community partner for more than 100 years, and we are working hard to continue operating long into the future.”

Kennecott has a long history of commitment to not only the economic and environmental aspects of Utah but to the general social health of our community. The company takes great pride in underwriting an array of community events and traditions throughout the valley. Many people may still remember the long-standing Kennecott Theater – a Sunday night movie tradition that ran for 17 years. Kennecott’s interest in creating a cohesive community still exists today. That is why the company chose to partner with the State of Utah, Salt Lake City, the Downtown Alliance, and SLC Film Center to present these outdoor films.

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS at the Utah State Capitol are presented every Thursday beginning July 1 and running until August 26. The series is presented in partnership with the Capitol Preservation Board, The Utah Film Commission and The SLC Film Center. Films will be shown at dusk on the southwest corner lawn of the Utah State Capitol.
Governor Gary R. Herbert looks forward to this summer film series stating, "As Governor, I'd like to personally invite everyone to participate in this program, which is a wonderful opportunity to visit the 'People's House' and share a fun, free night with their family and friends. Many of this year's movies were filmed right here in Utah, which is just one more reason to celebrate!"

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS Schedule
July 1 - The Sandlot (1993) - Made in Utah
July 8 - Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) - Made in Utah July 15 - Planet 51 (2009)
July 22 - Forever Strong (2008) - Made in Utah
July 29 - The Goonies (1985)
August 5 - The World’s Fastest Indian (2005) - Made in Utah
August 12 - The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
August 19 - Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
August 26 - The Blind Side (2009)
ROCK DOCS at Pioneer Park begins Friday, July 30, and runs every Friday until August 27. Conceived as companion program to the Twilight Concert Series, which is being presented in Pioneer Park, this series highlights a wide range of musical talents and genres. Prior to each screening, www.UtahFM.org will present a live performance by a local act. Films are screened on a large screen in the northwest corner of the park across from Tony Caputo’s Market and Deli and Bruges Waffles and Frites. The screenings are organized by the SLC Film Center, Downtown Alliance, and Salt Lake City Events, with additional support from Big D Construction, Slug Magazine, and Salt Lake City Weekly.
"We are thrilled to have Kennecott Theater present this summer's Pioneer Park's Picture Show series,” says Mayor Ralph Becker. " The Kennecott Theatre Film series, Farmers Market and the relocated Twilight Concert series demonstrates how public-private partnerships can fight crime, create community and a slate of programming that will both reward downtown residents and entice commuters to spend a "hot" summer night downtown."
ROCK DOCS ScheduleJuly 30 - The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights (2009) August 6 - Soul Power (2008) August 13 - Strange Powers: Stephen Merritt and the Magnetic Fields (2010) August 20 - Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007)August 27 - Viewers Choice (TBA)
About Kennecott Utah Copper
As the second largest copper producer in the United States, Kennecott Utah Copper provides about 18-25 percent of the U.S.'s copper needs. Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine is the largest man-made excavation in the world. It is one of the top producing copper mines in the world with production at more than 18.7 million tons. Every year, Kennecott produces approximately 300,000 tons of copper, along with 500,000 ounces of gold, 4 million ounces of silver, about 30 million pounds of molybdenum, and about 1 million tons of sulfuric acid, a byproduct of the smelting process. Rio Tinto purchased Kennecott Utah Copper in 1989 and has invested about $2 billion in the modernization of KUC’s operations. KUCC has also spent more than $350 million on the cleanup of historic mining waste and $100 million on groundwater cleanup. Rio Tinto employs 2,400 people and hundreds of contractors in Utah. www.kennecott.com.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the United
Kingdom, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources.
Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North
America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and
Southern Africa. www.riotinto.com.
# # #

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Movie Under the Star's

Ah, the pleasures of summer – sunset’s over the Great Salt Lake, warm dry evenings, the smell of freshly cut grass, the twinkle of the first stars as dusk falls, and the gentle glow of the silver screen. The Utah State Capitol announces their premier outdoor film series:

July 1 - The Sandlot (1993) MADE IN UTAH
July 8 - Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) MADE IN UTAH
July 15 - Planet 51 (2009)
July 22 - Forever Strong (2008) MADE IN UTAH
July 29 -The Goonies (1985)
August 5 -The World Fastest Indian (2005) MADE IN UTAH
August 12 -The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
August 19 - Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
August 26 - The Blindside (2009)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Come and See it Before it's Gone!!

Old Topographical Map

Come and see this old 3-D map of Utah before it is replaced!! The map has been apart of the Utah State Capitol since the 70's and is missing new crucial landmarks to Utah, including I-215 and other important National Monuments.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Utah Comes Together to Celebrate

Utahns celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream
By Aaron Falk
Deseret News



SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly half a century after Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and said those "four simple words," blacks in Utah have watched barriers felled and milestones reached in an ongoing fight for equality.
From smaller victories, such as the successful push to delay the start of the Utah Legislature to honor King, to the historic election of President Barack Obama, black leaders lauded the strides toward equality Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"The dream is now a reality," Bridgette Waters, of the New Pilgrim Baptist Church, told a crowd gathered at Sugarhouse Park, hearkening back to King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Col. Yolanda Dennis-Lowman, commander of the Tooele Army Depot, is herself a symbol of the nation's progress. During the NAACP Salt Lake branch's 26th annual Martin Luther King luncheon Monday, Dennis-Lowman recalled the service of the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen who could have hardly imagined a day when the nation's military would allow blacks in leadership.
From $65-a-plate lunches to rallies and service projects, the day was dedicated to King and his dream for equality.
"We don't want folks to use today as a day off, but to honor the works of Dr. King," said Jeanetta Williams, president of the NAACP Salt Lake Branch.
Despite the progress that has been made, many said the fight was not over.

Read more of the story HERE!!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Docent-Guided Tours for Students and Groups

Edit (01/21/2014): Effective December 2013, the Capitol Store has closed.

We offer guided tours specifically for students and large groups. Visitors will enjoy learning about Utah history, government, and the art and architecture of the Capitol. The total group size for one tour appointment, including students and chaperones, may not exceed 80 attendees. You are welcome to schedule multiple appointments in one day in order to meet the needs of your group size. We also invite you to use our student dining area, located next to our Capitol Store on the first floor. To use this space please make a reservation in advance.

We invite you to contact the Visitor Services Center to schedule tours of the Capitol or to get helpful information about legislative activities, special events and advice on transportation.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Utah in the Union in the News!

Jeremiah Chin, a graphic designer and researcher, helps install a new exhibit about Utah's entry into the Union in 1896 at the state Capitol building in Salt Lake City on Monday, 114 years after Utah became the nation's 45th state.

Photo Story from the Deseret News.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

In the News: Utah remembers its roots with Statehood Day

By Marc Haddock
Deseret News

Utahns first petitioned for statehood in 1849, two years after the Mormon pioneers first established homes in the Great Basin.
But it took 47 years — and an official declaration from the leadership of the LDS Church stating church members would no longer practice polygamy — before President Grover Cleveland on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1896, issued the proclamation admitting Utah to the Union as the 45th state.
Salt Lake City officials, wanting to be properly prepared for the occasion, postponed the official celebration until Monday, Jan. 6.
But residents didn't wait that long. A battery of the Utah National Guard marched to Capitol Hill and fired a 21-gun salute to alert the city. Businesses closed their doors and crowds swarmed the streets, ringing bells, shooting off firecrackers and blowing whistles.
"The news of the admission was welcomed by the firing of cannon and small arms, the shrieking of steam whistles and every other kind of noise which could be produced," wrote James E. Talmage in his personal diary.
An article in the Jan. 4, 1896, Provo Daily Enquirer said that when a telegram announcing the signing of the proclamation was delivered to the newspaper — and the community ?— "precisely at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time," the celebration started:

"At once the entire Enquirer building was covered with bunting and flags. The city marshal's office was notified and the Woolen Mills was called up by telephone, the Asylum and other places having steam whistles, and the long expected joyful news imparted. In the incredibly short space of time the entire city was reverberating with the shrieks of whistles, the chimes of bells, shooting of guns and cannon, and the happy shouts of freemen out of bondage. The town was decorated as if by magic and flags were soon seen floating from every public place and housetops everywhere."
Through the years, Jan. 4 has been recognized as Utah's Statehood Day. Sometimes the date coincides with the gubernatorial inauguration, which occurs on the first Monday of a new year following an election. On those occasions, the day is marked with inaugural balls and public ceremonies.
Many other years, like this one, the day passes with little or no notice.
Deseret News photographers have been on hand at many formal Statehood Day events, including the first one. Photo researcher Ron Fox has culled the newspaper's archives for these photographs, some that have never been published.
On Jan. 6, 1896, the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle hosted the state's official celebration, a 45-star flag made for the occasion in the ZCMI overall and fabrics factory stretched 160 feet along the ceiling. It was the largest American flag at the time.


Read more of the article HERE!!

STATEHOOD quiz: Test your knowledge of Utah state history

Quiz Created by KSL's Amanda Butterfield and the Capitol Curator Judith McConkie.
Take quiz HERE!!!

1 How many constitutions did Utah territorial leaders write in order to become a state?

2 How many territorial governors were sent from Washington, D.C. to be governors of Utah

3 Territory? (A trick question!)

4 Who was the first governor of Utah Territory?

5 How many counties were there when Utah entered the Union?

6 How many counties are there in Utah today?

7 What was the first name for the state?

8 Where did the name Utah come from?

9 How many stars on the 1896 United States flag?

10 Who was Utah's first state governor?

11 Where was he sworn in and why?

12 Where was Utah's first capital?

13 How many years did it take for Utah to become a state?

For quiz answers, click HERE!!!!

Celebrating Statehood Day at the Utah State Capitol

UTAH IN THE UNION COMING MARCH 3rd 2010!!!!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com