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

Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns (Trolley Square)

Central City Historic District

— National Register of Historic Places —

Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns (Trolley Square) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 19, 2025

1. Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns (Trolley Square) Marker

Inscription. Salt Lake City was one of the first cities in the U.S. to introduce a trolley car system, electrifying its first line in 1889. Railroad magnate E.H. Harriman purchased a controlling interest in Utah Light Railway Company with plans to build a state-of-the-art trolley system as a model for the world. He invested $3.5 million in this site, constructing the unusual mission-style car barn complex during 1908-10. The largest building was used as the berth for the trolleys. The middle building served as the machine or "rip" shop and blacksmith shop. The north building was the paint and carpenter shop. The smaller east building was the sand house. The water tower was designed to hold 50,000 gallons of water in case of fire.

The railway venture operated out of this location until August 19, 1945, after which the Salt Lake City buses were housed here until 1970. Trolley Square was one of the first large-scale adaptive reuse projects in the country when the historic buildings were converted into a festival marketplace. Relics from around the West were rescued and installed as accent pieces. Trolley Square opened in June of 1972.

Marker

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placed in 1997 in recognition of Trolley Square's 25th Anniversary.

Erected 1997 by Utah Division of State History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Utah Historic Sites (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 40° 45.424′ N, 111° 52.296′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Central City. It is on South 700 East, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 552 S 700 E, Salt Lake City UT 84102, 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: Trolley Square (here, next

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 19, 2025

2. Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns (Trolley Square) Marker

to this marker); a different marker also named Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns (Trolley Square) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Trolley Square (about 300 feet away); L.D.S. Tenth Ward Square (approx. 0.3 miles away); Richmond Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Cedar Tree Shrine (approx. 0.4 miles away); Liberty Park (approx. half a mile away); First Church of Christ, Scientist, Salt Lake City (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 19, 2025

3. Utah Light and Railway Co. Car Barns Building

Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 28, 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, 3. submitted on May 28, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.