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The Utah State Fair: a 161-year journey

The Utah State Fair: a 161-year journey

(Taft at Fair Park, Courtesy of Utah State Fair)


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This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

The Utah State Fair is among one of the most enjoyable and historic events that the Beehive state has to offer. But it didn’t happen in a day, and it has deep roots in the pioneer history that makes Utah what it is today.

For those interested in learning some historical trivia and the origin of the great Utah State Fair, here’s how the story goes:

A way to encourage self-sufficiency

The Mormon Pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, but it didn’t take them long to build, grow and create things worth exhibiting. Just nine short years after the arrival of the pioneers, Utah had its first fair. The only problem: Utah wasn’t actually a state yet.

In 1856, Utah was still technically the Territory of Deseret. However, this didn’t stop the locals (mostly members of the LDS Church) from holding a fair nonetheless. The task of organizing the fair fell to volunteer members of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society. Among other goals for the fair, the society wanted to promote self-sufficiency and agricultural independence, as the territory was still quite isolated.

The first fair

Thus, the first fair was held Oct. 2-4, 1856, in the Deseret Store and Tithing Office across the street from where construction was planned to build the Salt Lake Temple. This particular setting was located on what is now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Exhibits for this first fair included:

  • Agricultural products, such as hens
  • Handicraft products including a bridle, saddle and buckskin suit
  • Household goods and harvested fruits and crops
As it happened, most contests and prizes resulted in the awarding of small cash prizes, “diplomas” or certificates, and the pride of a job well done. Although these early exhibits (and successive early fairs) were often described as small, they served an important purpose for the early Utah settlers because it was a way to gather and enjoy one another’s hard-earned accomplishments.

Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair

Finding a place for the fair

The next several decades varied greatly. Drought, short harvests and other problems resulted in the fair happening on an irregular basis every couple years. The location was also a problem. Sites for the fair varied from “Market Row” to the “Tenth Ward Square,” which is now Trolley Square.

Eventually, though, it was gaining statehood that created an environment for the fair to continue and flourish. Utah gained statehood in 1896, and the society that had for so long managed fair-planning came under the control of the state government. As a result, the once small and religious-based fair became an official state fair to promote Utah and the American nation in general.

By 1902, the Legislature purchased 65 acres in Salt Lake City, called the “Agriculture Park.” This purchase signified a final place for the State Fair to occur each year, which became the Utah State Fairpark.

Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair

Development and renovations

Although the fairgrounds offer plenty of wide open spaces for the booths, displays and events that take place each year, it also offers many beautiful and historic buildings to see.

The first building was the Horticulture Building, which was later renamed Promontory Hall in 1977. Architects for the Horticulture Building included Walter E. Ware and Alberto Treganza, who used early Mission Style and Beaux Art to create this unique design. This building now hosts countless displays and art exhibits during the annual Fair, and plenty of other non-fair related events throughout the year.

Although the 1980s brought a time of disrepair to the fairgrounds and its buildings, renovations took place in 1988 to ensure that each building was well-kept and reflected the state in a positive way. The year 1997 brought the demolition of one building, the Coliseum, due to safety concerns.

Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair
Courtesy of Utah State Fair

Becoming a privatized operation

In 1995, the State Legislature privatized the Utah State Fair Organization. As long as the board of directors could ensure that the Fair remained profitable, the operation would continue in this manner. As such, the fairpark staff works hard to fill their schedule year-round to keep the fair independent of taxpayer dollars.

To keep with the original goals of representing the state and the nation, the Utah State Fair promotes several entities and organizations throughout the state, and sponsors a local food court featuring food that’s grown and prepared in Utah. With new technology and a smattering of the old and new, the Utah State Fair has plenty to offer with each passing year.

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