Hotel Utah celebrates 100 years

SALT LAKE CITY -- We know it as The Joseph Smith Memorial Building, but for decades it was the internationally-recognized Hotel Utah.

June 9, 2011, marks the building's 100th anniversary, and hundreds gathered to pay tribute to the grand old building.

Thursday evening, President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined a host of dignitaries for a ribbon cutting ceremony, kicking off a celebration that will pay tribute to a place that holds wonderful memories for many.

Hotel Utah was the "Grande Dame of Hotels" in the intermountain region for 76 years after it opened on June 9, 1911. Construction on the hotel cost $2 million. Latter-day Saint Church leaders donated the land and many companies joined in the effort to create a place of beauty where community events could be held.

The stunning 10-story structure hosted visitors from around the world, including legislators, conference-goers and every U.S. president since William Howard Taft in 1912. It became a major landmark with a five-star restaurant, attracting visitors from around the world.

By 1918, managers added 100 guest rooms.

During the Great Depression, they cut room rates from $3.50 to $2.50 for singles and from $5.00 to $3.50 for doubles.

During World War II, occupancy increased because of military bases in the area.

Share your memories
Do you have a special memory of the Hotel Utah/Joseph Smith Memorial Building? Share them on the 100 Year Anniversary website.

But over time, travelers' priorities changed and the Hotel Utah became less a destination. A National Historic Site, LDS Church leaders closed it in 1987 but not without attempts to change their minds.

In March of that year, two city council members met with Church leaders.

Tom Godfrey was on the Salt Lake City Council in 1987. "I think if there were any way President Hinckley could have kept the hotel open, he would have," he said. "It's as old as he is."

At Thursday's ceremony, President Monson told of a decision to close the hotel in the late ‘80s when some thought it should be torn down.

"I think everyone who wanted to see it preserved felt it should be preserved because of memory," he said.

President Hinckley assured leaders that the historic building would be preserved and the lobby would remain open to the public.

Six years later, the $42 million renovation was revealed to the public. Visitors reminisced and many more planned events at the newly-finished building.

In preparation for the celebration, the lobby was decorated with a display of period cars and clothing, beautiful dresses women wore in decades past for community events at this elegant hotel.

Many who attended the festivities have their own stories to tell of special moments in the grand building.

Suzanne and Cameron Nelson's wedding day, August 11, 1999, was picture perfect: Lunch at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building went from lovely to a run for their lives -- from the 7th floor, they saw a tornado.

"The Joseph Smith staff finally came along and told everyone to get away from the windows, there was a tornado, and they evacuated everyone down to the basement, by the stairs," Suzanne said. "Everyone remembers the day I got married, and that's something that doesn't happen to most people."

Joe and Glo Jensen got a memorable photo by stepping out onto an upper floor fire escape of the hotel.

"I don't know how legal that was, but we did it and got a neat picture with the temple in the background," Joe said.

"So we kissed on the fire escape of the Hotel Utah almost 60 years ago, and we're still kissing, all these years later," Glo said as the two smooched again for KSL cameras.

If you have a special memory of the Hotel Utah and Joseph Smith Memorial Building, share it on the anniversary website HERE.

Email: cmikita@ksl.com

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