Sugar House in Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Utah Penitentiary
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 19, 2025
1. Utah Penitentiary Marker
Inscription.
Utah Penitentiary. . This monument marks the site of the Utah Penitentiary, selected by Brigham Young in October 1853, then a safe 6 miles form the center of the city. The first buildings of adobe brick, surrounded by a 12 foot wall, were occupied in January 1855. Early accounts indicate that escapes were frequent because of poor facilities and the lack of guards. In 1866 the penitentiary was renovated. The three buildings, wall, and guard houses were upgraded to stone. Later a dining hall, hospital and women's quarters were added. By 1882 the penitentiary included 244 steel cells and a 250 capacity chapel. A new 19 foot wall enclosed 2 acres. A large area surrounding the prison was used by inmates to farm and raise livestock for inmate consumption.
This monument marks the site of the Utah Penitentiary, selected by Brigham Young in October 1853, then a safe 6 miles form the center of the city. The first buildings of adobe brick, surrounded by a 12 foot wall, were occupied in January 1855. Early accounts indicate that escapes were frequent because of poor facilities and the lack of guards.
In 1866 the penitentiary was renovated. The three buildings, wall, and guard houses were upgraded to stone. Later a dining hall, hospital and women's quarters were added.
By 1882 the penitentiary included 244 steel cells and a 250 capacity chapel. A new 19 foot
wall enclosed 2 acres. A large area surrounding the prison was used by inmates to farm and
raise livestock for inmate consumption.
Erected 1988 by Sons of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 17.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1855.
Location. 40° 43.503′ N, 111° 51.063′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Sugar House. It is on East 2100 South, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City UT 84105, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
