Cedar City in Iron County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Palace Drug Building

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, October 27, 2025

1. Palace Drug Building Marker

Inscription. Built in 1895, this is one of the oldest buildings on Main Street. Originally, there was a curved parapet on the roof which had been removed by 1932. By 1909, this building become the home of the Palace Drug Store where you could purchase the modern medicine of the day including: Dr. King's New Life Pills, Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets, and Bucklen's Arnica Salve as well as a "choice line" of Perfumery and Cigars and Tobaccos. By 1924 the building held Lowary's Cash Grocery with a bakery in the back. The store carried "the very choicest of the season's offerings in Fruits and Vegetables... Which go toward helping you prepare good meals." In 1928, the store was given an exemption to the Sunday closing law and was allowed to open for business to support the "traveling public."

The building served many commercial uses through the years until in 1962 it became the home of Hugh's Cafe. Hugh Cheever had opened a very successful cafe further up the block that had become a community institution. After his building was destroyed in the 1962 Main Street fire he relocated to this spot. A 1975 ad read "Next

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time you call your wife and announce that you're planning on bringing guests home for dinner, give her a break and add - “to dinner at Hugh's Cafe.” While Hugh Cheever closed his cafe in the late 1980's this site continues to be both a home for thriving businesses and a powerful example of historic preservation.

Erected 2025 by Cedar City Historic Preservation Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 37° 40.801′ N, 113° 3.721′ W. Marker is in Cedar City, Utah, in Iron County. It is on North Main Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 155 N Main Street, Cedar City UT 84720, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. 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.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, October 27, 2025

2. Palace Drug Building Marker

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: El Escalante Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Utah Parks Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Stockman (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cedar Sheep Association (about 400 feet away); Heroine of China (about 400 feet away); Cedar City Railroad Depot (about 600 feet away); Bank of Southern Utah (about 600 feet away); Richard Harrison (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar City.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Escalante Trail (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Palace Drug Building North Side Showing Old Ads image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, October 27, 2025

3. Palace Drug Building North Side Showing Old Ads

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 7, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.