Council Hall, Salt Lake City

The Salt Lake City Council Hall, perched on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, is a remarkable historical site that now houses the offices of the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Film Commission. Originally known as the Old Salt Lake City Hall, this structure served as the city hall from 1866 to 1894, a period marked by intense political and social shifts as the Utah Territory clashed with federal authorities. In 1975, it was designated a National Historic Landmark due to its historical significance.

Built between 1864 and 1866 under the architectural guidance of William H. Folsom, a key figure in the design work for the LDS Church, the hall was constructed of sandstone sourced from Red Butte Canyon. This Greek Revival building was meant to replace a smaller city hall that quickly became insufficient for Salt Lake City's growing population after the Utah War.

Council Hall, dedicated in January 1866 with leaders like Brigham Young present, became the city’s government center for nearly 30 years. It housed the mayor's office and departments on the first floor, while the second-floor Rose Room served as a courtroom and legislative space. In August 1874, Mayor Daniel H. Wells declared martial law from the balcony amid tensions with federal marshals at a congressional election.

After the city government relocated in 1894, the building functioned as the police headquarters until 1915 and later took on minor civic roles. In a dramatic turn, to avoid demolition for a federal office project, the hall was dismantled into 325 sandstone slabs in 1961 and reassembled on Capitol Hill. Funded largely by the LDS Church and under architect Edward O. Anderson’s direction, the restoration completed in 1962 breathed new life into this historic building. Today, renamed Council Hall, it stands as a preserved piece of Utah’s storied past.