Salt Lake Temple

Closed for renovationDetailed profile

Announced: July 28, 1847
Groundbreaking: February 14, 1853
Dedicated: April 6, 1893
Rededicated: May 21, 1963

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Overview

The Salt Lake Temple is a pioneer-era landmark whose 1853 groundbreaking followed an announcement made shortly after Latter-day Saint settlers reached the Great Salt Lake Valley. Dedicated in 1893 after four decades of construction, the granite building has unusually thick walls, six spires, and a large interior. Its current renovation is a separate lifecycle chapter: the project adds seismic protection through 98 base isolators while documenting and preserving selected historic rooms and finishes.

Detailed profile. This page includes an editorial history drawn from verified facts.

Timeline

July 28, 1847Announced
February 14, 1853GroundbreakingBrigham Young
February 14, 1853Site dedicatedBy Heber C. Kimball
April 5, 1893Public open house
April 6, 1893DedicatedBy Wilford Woodruff
May 21, 1963Rededicated

Notable facts

NotePublic celebration/open-house activity is described for 2027 after the renovation.
RenovationThe 2026 renovation update reports that the temple now rests on a base-isolation system designed for seismic performance.
RenovationThe renovation installed 98 base isolators about 20 feet below the temple.
RenovationThe renovation preserves or restores selected historic rooms and staircases while changing the floor plan and building systems.
ScaleThe building has 170 rooms, including four sealing rooms and one ordinance room.
ConstructionThe walls are about nine feet thick at the base and six feet thick at the top.
Nearby historyTemple Square, Church History Museum, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Beehive House, Lion House.

Architecture & details

Elevation above sea level	4,335 feet
Height	222 feet
Order of dedication	4th temple dedicated
Ordinance rooms	2 baptistry · 5 instruction · 22 sealing
Site area	10 acres
Floor area	253,000 square feet
Exterior	The exterior is described as quartz monzonite quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon.