The Avenues in Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Anderson Tower

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, October 2, 2018

1. Anderson Tower Marker

Inscription. Anderson Tower was built in 1884 by Robert R. Anderson (1848-1935) a pioneer of 1867, and one of the original settlers on the north bench of Salt Lake City. The tower was patterned after similar towers Mr. Anderson had seen in Scotland as a young boy. They were known as "follies". It was constructed of gray granite from the same quarry used to supply granite for the Salt Lake Temple. The circular three-story structure, located at 303 A Street, was 54 feet high and 25 feet in diameter. Inside the austere tower was a winding stairway that led past numerous windows to the observation deck equipped with a telescope.

People were charged a small fee to climb to the top for the view. The venture was unsuccessful, and Anderson opened the tower free to the public until vandalism forced its closure.

For forty-eight years, Anderson Tower stood as an imposing, picturesque landmark on the Avenues, visible from many parts of Salt Lake Valley. This ended in November of 1932 when the tower was razed and the land leveled.

This monument stands approximately where the tower stood, and the base is built with granite blocks originally

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used in the tower.

Erected 1992 by Salt Lake North Company, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 463.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1932.

Location. 40° 46.586′ N, 111° 53.027′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in The Avenues. It is on A Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salt Lake City UT 84103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 145th United States Field Artillery Memorial

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, October 2, 2018

2. Anderson Tower Marker

(about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ottinger Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); The 18th Ward Chapel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Statue of Massassoit (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Mormon Battalion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gold Star Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Council Hall, Old City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Council Hall (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Atlas Obscura. Link tells the story of the tower and has a photograph of the standing tower. (Submitted on October 3, 2018, by Andrew Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, October 2, 2018

3. Anderson Tower Marker

The marker overlooks the Utah State Capitol building.

<i>Salt Lake City - from Anderson's Tower</i> image. Click for full size.

Published by T.W. Ingersoll, St. Paul, Minn. (image courtesy of the Library of Congress), 1897

4. Salt Lake City - from Anderson's Tower

This is the right half of a stereoscopic view of Salt Lake City from the tower.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2018, by Andrew Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah. This page has been viewed 2,981 times since then and 120 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2018, by Andrew Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah. 4. submitted on October 3, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.