Utah State Legislature - Utah State Capitol

Utah State Capitol

Over the years there have been many changes to the structure of the legislature, the number of Senators and Representatives, and the location of the Capitol, the Salt Lake Council Hall served as the meeting place for the Utah Territorial legislature, and in 1896 the Utah State Legislature designated Fillmore, Millard County, Utah, as the state capital.

The Fillmore Capitol was abandoned and the Utah Legislature met in Salt Lake City at various locations including The Council House (Main and South Temple streets), the Social Hall (Social Hall Avenue), the old Salt Lake County Courthouse (Second South and Second West streets), the Salt Lake City Hall (First South near State Street), and the present Salt Lake City and County Building (Fourth South and State streets).

After, being admitted to the Union as a State on January 4, 1896 by an act signed into law by President Grover Cleveland, the first official act of statehood was the swearing in of State officials at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on January 6, 1896 as Utah did not have an official State Capitol. Acting upon the recommendation of Governor John C. Cutler the Utah Legislature finally approved a plan to build a State Capitol in 1909 yet construction on the Capitol did not start until December 26, 1912 and it wasn't completed and dedicated until October 9, 1916.

The Utah Capitol Building was undergoing renovations and seismic upgrades beginning in 2002 and was finished in 2008. The State Legislature met in the West Administration Building at the Capitol Complex while the Governor's and Lt. Governor's Offices were located in the East Administration Building during the time of renovation.