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

Council Hall, Old City Hall

Utah Historic Site

— National Register of Historic Places —

Council Hall, Old City Hall Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 9, 2026

1. Council Hall, Old City Hall Marker

Inscription.

Council Hall, Old City Hall. Utah Historic Site. , Council Hall, originally called Old City Hall, was erected between 1864 and 1866 and was located on the corner of 120 East and 100 South. Key moments in Utah's early history took place in this historic building. In 1868, Brigham Young founded the Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution. In 1870, the Territorial Legislature passed women's suffrage and Seraph Young voted in this Hall, becoming the nation's first woman to vote under an equal suffrage law. And in 1872, the constitution for the "State of Deseret," the forerunner to the state of Utah, was drafted. , , Designed by Architect William Folsom in 1863, this red sandstone two-story 60-foot-square building of Federal architectural style cost approximately $70,000 and took two years to complete. It was dedicated on January 8, 1866. , , Council Hall served as the seat of city government and the Territorial Legislature, housing offices including those of the mayor, recorder, treasurer, city attorney, alderman, and territorial militia. It contained a courtroom, council chamber, territorial library, among other rooms. From 1866 to 1894, the building's large 1,700-pound bell hung in the cupola and sounded alarms for fires and curfews. , , In 1894, the territorial government moved to the newly-opened Salt Lake City and County Building, allowing Council Hall to be used in a variety of ways, including housing the Salt Lake City police headquarters until 1915, the Board of Health and Sanitary Division offices thereafter, and then as home to the Utah Office of Tourism. , , In 1961-1962, with funds provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the building was carefully dismantled and reconstructed at this location, with the State of Utah funding its furnishing and landscaping. Two updates were made including the addition of a basement and a sawed sandstone apron around the exterior building perimeter. , , Council Hall, Old City Hall is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Council Hall, originally called Old City Hall, was erected between 1864 and 1866 and was located on the corner of 120 East and 100 South. Key moments in Utah's early history took place in this historic building. In 1868, Brigham Young founded the Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution. In 1870, the Territorial Legislature passed women's suffrage and Seraph Young voted in this Hall, becoming the nation's first woman to vote under an equal suffrage law. And in 1872, the constitution for the "State of Deseret," the forerunner to the state of Utah, was drafted.

Designed by Architect William Folsom in 1863, this red sandstone two-story 60-foot-square building of Federal architectural style cost approximately $70,000 and took two years to complete. It was dedicated on January 8, 1866.

Council Hall served as the seat of city government and the Territorial Legislature, housing offices including those of the mayor, recorder, treasurer, city attorney, alderman, and territorial militia. It contained a courtroom, council chamber, territorial library, among other rooms. From 1866 to 1894, the building's large 1,700-pound bell hung in the cupola and sounded alarms for fires and curfews.

In 1894, the territorial government moved to the newly-opened Salt Lake City and County Building, allowing Council Hall

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to be used in a variety of ways, including housing the Salt Lake City police headquarters until 1915, the Board of Health and Sanitary Division offices thereafter, and then as home to the Utah Office of Tourism.

In 1961-1962, with funds provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the building was carefully dismantled and reconstructed at this location, with the State of Utah funding its furnishing and landscaping. Two updates were made including the addition of a basement and a sawed sandstone apron around the exterior building perimeter.

Council Hall, Old City Hall is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Erected 2025 by Utah state Historic Preservation Office.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 40° 46.541′ N, 111° 53.265′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Capitol Hill. It is at the intersection of 300 North and State Street, on the right when traveling east on 300 North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 State St, 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: Old City Hall (a few steps from this marker); The 18th Ward Chapel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Mormon Battalion

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 9, 2026

2. Council Hall, Old City Hall Marker

(about 300 feet away); Ottinger Hall (about 600 feet away); Statue of Massassoit (about 700 feet away); Lest We Forget (about 800 feet away); Ensign Peak (about 800 feet away); The Constitution Revered (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Council Hall (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Council Hall, Old City Hall Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 9, 2026

3. Council Hall, Old City Hall Building

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 9, 2026

4. Council Hall, Old City Hall Building

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 11, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Craig Baker was the editor who published this page.