Star Hall History

Star Hall is the oldest public building in Moab that is still in use. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was constructed in 1905-1906 by the local Mormon community to serve as a social and cultural center.

The exterior of the building is considered one of the finest examples of an architectural style called "Richardson Romanesque," building that are rough-hewn versions of more elaborate structures created by Henry Hobson Richardson in New England.

The building opened in May, 1906, with a "musical entertainment" organized by the Busy Women's Club to raise money for the victims of the San Francisco earthquake. At the time, the building had no name, but within six months it was referred to as The Star Opera House.

In the next two decades the "Opera house" was home to a variety of theatrical presentations, musical events, dances, meetings, political rallies, lectures, poetry readings and other public entertainments. Starting in 1907, the Shafer Brothers began to advertise and promote Star Hall to traveling shows. With a capacity of 500 and a gas-lit auditorium and stage, it was described as "the best equipped Amusement Hall in South Eastern Utah." The basement was often used for large dinners followed by dances. For several years in the era of silent movies, the "The Star" served as Moab's cinema.

In 1925, the LDS Church sold the building for $1 to the Grand County School District, which changed the building's name to Star Hall. Over the next thirty years, the School District used the facility many ways: for classrooms, as a venue for basketball games, and finally for shop and woodworking classes.

By the 1960's, Star Hall had fallen into disrepair and was almost razed. After much public debate, the School Board used funds from a bond issue to renovate the structure and return it to its original use as a place for public entertainment. Among other improvements, a raked floor was installed. Opening night of the "new" Star Hall was May 23, 1968, with local students offering a presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma.

Since that reopening, the hall has once again served as a performance center for plays, music, ceremonies, films, and meetings. Both audiences and performers praise Star Hall for its acoustics and intimacy.

In 1998, ownership of Star Hall was transferred from the School District to Grand County. A committee of local arts organizations - including the Moab Community Theatre, Moab Music Festival, and Moab Folk Festival, serves as an advisory group.

Thanks to the initiatives of many community members, the exterior of the building was repaired and restored in the late 1990's and, in 2006-2007, the interior was renovated as part of Star Hall's Centennial Celebration. . This historical marker was erected by Grand County. It is in Moab in Grand County Utah