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

The Summit

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2023

1. The Summit Marker

Inscription. Before he left Nauvoo, Brigham Young said that Joseph Smith, the deceased prophet, had appeared to him in a vision and had shown him a place where the banner of liberty should wave. When he viewed this peak as he entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, Brigham reportedly said, "This is the place," adding "I want to go there." Two days later, still weak from mountain fever, he insisted on climbing to the summit. Eight others made the hike with him where they spent several hours in prayer and counsel. They gazed over the valley and made plans for the new city. They wanted their new home to become the "ensign for the nations" of which Isaiah had prophesied in the Bible, hence the name Ensign Peak. No ensign, or flag, was flown on that occasion, but perhaps a yellow bandanna, tied to a cane, was waved as a symbolic gesture. Within a few weeks, an American flag was hoisted on the summit.

Elevation 5,416 Feet

The elevation of Ensign Peak is 5,416 feet. This is 1,085 feet above the southeast corner of the temple block where the Salt Lake Baseline and Meridian were established on August 2, 1847 while Orson Pratt was

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

laying out the city. At that point, the city is 4,331 feet above sea level.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 1847.

Location. 40° 47.664′ N, 111° 53.438′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Capitol Hill. It can be reached from Ensign Vista Drive west of East Greenstroke Drive. The marker is located in the Ensign Peak Nature Park and can be reached via a clearly marked 0.5 mile trail to the peak. 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: Flags on Ensign Peak

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2023

2. The Summit Marker

Marker is on the left, atop Ensign Peak.

(here, next to this marker); The View (here, next to this marker); Ensign Peak (here, next to this marker); The Valley (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The View (approx. 0.2 miles away); The American Indians (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Explorers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Ensign Peak (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 343 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 5, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.