Capitol Hill Scheduling

We look forward to having your event at the Utah State Capitol Complex. The Capitol Preservation Board Staff is pleased to help you with the coordination of your event. There are many areas such as the Rotunda, White Memorial Chapel, State Building Auditorium and various conference rooms that can be reserved for meetings and private functions.

On the website, we have included information about rooms, applications, fees, facility rules and catering information to help you with your needs and questions you might have.

You can read and access documents to help you plan and schedule your events on the website: http://utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/visitors/schedule/index.html

Please read the documents before you fill out your application and then call Karrie Thorne at 801-538-3074 or email karriethorne@utah.gov with any questions and reservations needs.

Thank you and we Welcome to the ‘People’s House’!

Celebrating spring at the Utah State Capitol!

Stroll along the gravel pathway that encircles the Utah State Capitol and you will be amazed at the beauty that surrounds you: The majestic Wasatch Range to the east, the sun glittering on the Great Salt Lake to the west, and the vibrant white blossoms adorning the young branches of 500 Yoshino cherry trees which line the Memorial Walkway.

Designed by John Olmsted, son of Frederick Law Olmstead, the father of U.S. landscape architechture, the elliptical foothpath leads one around the Capitol grounds to visit points of interest such as the Mormon Battalion Monument, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, The Harriman Memorial, the Civil War Memorial, and the newly opened Utah Law Enforcement Memorial.

While the trees may be young, they will someday rival those of the internationally renowned Tidal Basin in our nation's capitol, Washington D.C.

Come experience for yourself the beauty that surrounds our incredible Capitol!

Visitor Services Program Re-Cap January, February & March 2009

Visitor Services Program Re-Cap January, February & March 2009
I want to personally thank the Visitor Services staff for all of their efforts during the past three months. In January, February and March the Capitol hosted more than 70,000 people. February was the busiest with more than 46,000 people visiting the Capitol Hill Complex.


Visitor Services –
In January the Docent Program trained 18 new docents. Over half of the new docents are state employees willing to donate their time, we are very grateful for their interest and commitment to the program.

This Legislative Session Joanna Hudson, Tour Coordinator and the docent’s hosted over 9,500 people on tours of the Capitol. There were over 150 school tours during the session.


The text Capitol tour with mobile phones continues to be enjoyed by many visitor’s to the Capitol. They say it is easy for them and they like the uniqueness of the idea and the information is quite informing.

Award’s –
The Capitol continues to receive national recognition and awards for the restoration project.

Since the beginning of 2009 the Board has been notified of the following awards:

2009 - The Palladio Award for Public Works
2009 - Building Design and Construction Platinum Reconstruction Award
2009 - Victorian Society in America Preservation Award
2009 - Engineering News Record's Best Project of the Year Award

Additional award submittal applications are continually in the process of being evaluated and worked through to submit as deadlines approach.

The Utah Capitol Store –
The Utah Capitol Store began a new program introducing Utah's owned food products called, "Utah's Own". The store invited Utah companies to bring food products for taste testing and cooking demonstrations throughout the Legislative Session. Visitors were offered samples of products such as honey, lotions, cereal, tomato seeds and chocolate. Two Utah authors visited the Capitol Store during this time as well. These products were available to purchase through the Utah Capitol Store through the end of March.

This program helped to introduce Utah’s own products to a key audience and also increased sales and attendance in the Utah Capitol Store.

Throughout the 2009 summer we are planning to have a variety of vendors visit the Utah Capitol Store and provide samples to the public and state employees. We are also working to invite Utah authors to hold book signings at the store in a continuous effort to spotlight Utah’s Own artists and products.

Public Relations –
Capitol Brochure: The 50,000 copies of the Grand Opening brochure were given out to the public. The creation and development of an updated brochure with new Capitol picture’s and copy has been completed. The new brochure is being used by the Visitor Services Center.

Web Site: New information is constantly being developed and written for posting to the Board’s web site.

Media: I trained and helped new media personnel from TV, print and computer on their broadcast needs from the Capitol and other areas on Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill Complex was the backdrop for hundreds of stories during the session.

Movie Under the Stars: I am happy to announce, the Utah Care Foundation funded our proposal for $2,500 to fund Movie Under the Starts. The summer film series will kick-off on June 10th and run through August. We are excited to watch Utahn’s enjoy the People’s Grounds throughout the summer.

Coming Soon to a Capitol Near You!

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:

Movie Under the Stars!

The summer film series will kick-off on June 10th and run through August. We are currently working to bring the community great movie presentations. Stay tuned for our entertaining, family friendly movie line-up.

Movies start when it gets dark (approximately 8:30 p.m.) – time varies as the summer goes on – but come early to enjoy concessions and chatting.

If you have any questions, contact our Visitor Services at capitoltours@utah.gov . To stay in the loop and for more updates for Movie Under the Stars, please check this blog. Tell all your friends about this wonderful new summer event!

Visitors from around the world

Sculpted by Eugene Daub, Robert Firmin, and Jonah Hendrickson, "Immigration & Settlement" symbolizes, in its timeless setting, the fact that Utah encourages and welcomes new citizens from a wide range of backgrounds. The Utah Spirit of Immigration and Settlement gently sweeps forward into Utah, in a Bernini-like movement out from of her niche into the center of The People’s House. A breeze, blowing from the past into the future, animates her robes. She is leading the way into Utah for the next generation, which, represented by the girl, holds the entire Earth—the potential source of immigration—in her hands. The spirit barely touches the girl’s shoulder—just sufficiently for reassurance—it is up to the girl to decide for herself if she will immigrate and settle in Utah.

The State Capitol is visited daily by people from all over the world. Yesterday, the U.S Ambassador from Russia marvelled at the beautiful Senate Chamber while a large group of visitors from Germany, here in Utah to ski and enjoy our canyon country, remarked again and again how impressed they were with the ornate details of the building. Today, youth from countries such as Mali, Burma, and Tanzania - many of whom relocated from refugee camps less than 6 months ago - excitedly moved throughout the marble hallways.

Whether from locales near or far, visitors are welcomed by one of our 60 volunteer docents with a warm smile and a willingness to share their love of this building and vast knowledge of it's unique story.

Granite School District Newcomer Academy

Docents: Pam Jones and Janet Reese

Thank You Docents!

This is a heartfelt thank you to the many docent's who contributed to the success of our school tours throughout this past Legislative Session. Joanna Hudson, Tour Coordinator and I are so grateful.

You handled large tour groups with patience and grace, and thanks to your flexibility and smooth control we were able to orchestrate a record number of class recognitions and meetings with Legislators. This did not go unnoticed by those elected to represent the people of Utah, and many Representatives and Senators have mentioned how much they have appreciated what you do.

Again, thank you for all of your support and hard work. We are lucky to have every docent at the Utah State Capitol!

Capitol Curator, Judith McConkie, PhD Book Signing - Wednesday, March 11 - 11:00-1:00

The Utah Capitol Store continues with our Utah Author's program, we are excited to feature Capitol Curator, Judith McConkie, PhD author of With Anxious Care. Judith will be available to sign your copy of With Anxious Care and answer your questions, Wednesday, March 11 from 11:00 am -1:00 pm.

With Anxious Care
In his remarkable book The Seven Lamps of Architecture, the famed Victorian architect John Ruskin declared, "Watch an old building with anxious care, guard it as best you may." Through a creative combination of riveting photos and an alluring descriptive history, author Judith McConkie, the Capitol's curator, captures the anxious care that has created and preserved Utah's Capitol. The book begins with a personal introduction by the preservation project's executive architect, David H. Hart, FAIA. The book features wonderful photography including historic photographs of the Capitol's early 20th century beginnings and stunning pictures of recent preservation and restoration by the book's graphic design artist Michael Dunn. The history, art, and architecture of the building are presented with eloquent clarity fit for an audience of both scholars and amateurs.

Allyson Gamble and the Utah Capitol Store Staff

Welcome to the Utah State Capitol Visitor Services Blog

I'd like to begin by simply thanking you for visiting this blog. I hope you find something that interests you. The Capitol is incredibly fascinating to me and I enjoy the privilege of sharing this fascination with visitors. Exciting things regularly happen on Capitol Hill and I hope to keep you updated. I also hope this blog helps give you a better idea of what our visitor services program is all about.

In addition to our immensly capable tour coordinator, Joanna Hudson, and our wonderful team of volunteer docents, this blog is a part of our effort to realize our Visitor Services mission statement. Here is that statement:

The Visitor Services Program for the Utah State Capitol provides a meaningful experience for all visitors to the Capitol Hill Complex. The program educates visitors about the history of Utah, history of the Capitol, appreciation of the democratic process and the restoration and renovation of the Utah State Capitol. The program provides opportunities for visitors to understand the Capitol through thematic guided experiences and activities highlighting the Capitol, its grounds, artwork and artifacts, exhibitions, and events, as well as the people who serve the citizens of the state.

With these goals in mind, we intend to make your visits to the Capitol memorable and exciting. If you haven't seen the restored Capitol, I invite you to come and see it!And if you have, I hope you'll come back soon and bring a friend or two.

Also, if you haven't yet visited the Capitol's main website, click here to take a look.

Thanks again for your visit!

Cordially,

Allyson Gamble

Director of Public Relations, Communications and Visitor Services