Salt Lake City | Utah Real Estate

The first US visitor to the Salt Lake area was a man named John Chugg in 1824. The city itself was founded on July 24, 1847 when a group of Mormon pioneers entered the valley and decided to settle the land. The founding group consisted of 143 men, three women, and two children. The pioneers immediately began planting crops and laying out a plan for the city. They named the area the Great Salt Lake City after the salty inland lake which dominated the desert to the west.

Many of the original emigrants were of European origin and brought with them culture, languages, and skills to the valley turning the city into a cosmopolitan center. On January 6, 1851, the city was formally organized as “The City of the Great Salt Lake” but was officially changed to Salt Lake City in 1856 when the territorial capital was moved from Fillmore, Utah to Salt Lake.

Salt Lake was a major crossroads for anyone headed west and an important trading post for spectators and prospectors during the California Gold Rush. In 1868, the Zion’s Co-Operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) was formed and is one of the nation’s first department stores. It was bought in 1999, but was an important part of the state’s independence on other goods and services for 132 years. The railroad and mining industries were also important for early settlers and provided plenty of opportunities.

Now, Salt Lake City is a thriving and bustling city with several convention centers, an International Airport, the University of Utah, tons of shopping, and the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is an area that continues to experience strong economic growth and is ranked as one of the best environments for business. Some of the major industries in the city include biomedical, high technology, and software firms. In February 2002, Salt Lake City was proud to host the Olympic Winter Games.

Things to do

Hogle Zoo – The zoo is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon and dates back to 1931. It sits on 42 acres and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo boasts a 4+ acre African Savanna exhibit which features giraffes, zebras, nyala, and of course lions overlooking everything from Lions’ Hill. The rest of the zoo has been recently updated with a must see Elephant Encounter exhibit and their Rocky Shores Exhibit. The zoo is one of the most-visited attractions in Utah.

Red Butte Garden – The history of the gardens dates back to 1930 when the chairman of the Botany Department started using campus land for plant research. In 1961, the state formalized the collection and designated the campus landscape as the State Arboretum. Finally, in 1985, the University dedicated 100 acres at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon for a regional botanical garden. The garden formally became the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum at that time. Now, the garden sits on 21 acres of gardens and has over 5 miles of hiking trails. You’ll find beautiful floral displays, an outstanding outdoor summer concert series, and even a fantastic award winning educational program. Many use it as a gorgeous setting for weddings or other occasions.

Natural History Museum of Utah – Located near the University of Utah, the museum houses roughly 1.6 million objects and artifacts. There are educational programs for people of all ages making it a fun family outing. You’ll find collections on paleontology, anthropology, entomology, vertebrate zoology, mineralogy, botany, and malacology. There’s something for everyone!

Tracy Aviary and Botanical Gardens – The Tracy Aviary has an 80 year history and is the largest and oldest of the two free-standing aviaries in the nation. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is also a cultural landmark located in Liberty Park. Visitors enjoy many exhibits including a Macaw and King Vulture exhibit, Treasures of the Rainforest, an outdoor bird show, and much more! It’s a popular activity for families across Utah.

Clark Planetarium – Located in the popular Gateway shopping center, Clark Planetarium has 10,000 square feet of free exhibits for families to explore. There is also a dome theatre and an IMAX theater with regular shows for a small fee. It’s a fun educational outing for families of all ages.

Liberty Park – Liberty Park is one of the largest and most popular parks in Salt Lake City. It has two playgrounds, a full court basketball court, volleyball courts, three bocce ball courts, a swimming pool, and horseshoes. There are also multiple pavilions and BBQ grills. Visitors will also find paddleboats for rent and train rides available for a small fee.

This is the Place Heritage Park – Learn all about Utah at this fun interactive park all year round. Visitors can ride a train through the park and kids will love riding ponies, meeting animals, and petting farm animals. There is also a fantastic interactive feature called The Treasure House which tells the story of mining in Utah’s history. Visitors also enjoy visiting the Native American Village celebrating the Navajo and Shoshone nations. There are also fun interactive activities for visitors who want to experience old fashioned pioneer chores and much more!

Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum – Located in the popular Gateway Shopping Center, the museum has 60,000 square feet of awesome, hands-on exhibits for children and inspires creative play and learning for the entire family.

The Leonardo Museum – This non-profit museum, which opened in 2011, is dedicated to fusing science, technology, and art to inspire creativity and innovation. Visitors will discover hands-on experiences designed for learning and creating. The museum also hosts special events and family friendly educational programs.

Utah Museum of Fine Arts – Remodeled in 2017, the museum shows the breadth and depth of creativity art. You’ll discover art from all over the world, both modern and contemporary. It is an exciting hub of cultural exchange among both University of Utah students and the surrounding community.

Ensign Peak – For a beautiful overlook of the city, Ensign Peak is a popular trail. Located above the State Capitol building, the short trail leads you up to a small monument at the summit. From there, you’ll see stunning views of the capitol and much of the Salt Lake Valley.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden – Created in the mid-twentieth century and tucked away in the middle of a block in Salt Lake City, the garden is a fun off the beaten path experience for families. There’s no charge for admission and the public is welcome to visit seven days a week.

International Peace Gardens – The garden was founded as a lesson in peace and understanding between nations and was dedicated in 1952. Now, it represents the cultural diversity of twenty-six nations. The gardens are open seasonally and available to the public.

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art – It is the only museum in Utah dedicated to contemporary arts and culture and provides a nurturing space for artists to work and supports contemporary arts in the community. It’s a wonderful place to discover local art for visitors of all ages. They even host stroller tours to encourage discussions while you have your little ones in tow.

Salt Lake City Public Library – The main library is located in the heart of downtown and is architecturally unique. After a 100 year history at various locations in the city, the library was redesigned and opened at its current location on February 8, 2003. It covers 240,000 square feet and has a collection which comprises over 500,000 books. It also has a beautiful rooftop garden, an art gallery, a coffee shop, a children’s library and the world’s largest graphic novel collection in a public library. It’s a must see for anyone living or visiting Salt Lake City.

Places of Interest

Cathedral of the Madeleine – The first Catholic bishop of Salt Lake began construction of the cathedral in 1900 and completed it in 1909. Little has changed since the original construction but various renovations were necessary on the exterior in 1975, 1980, and a large renovation which took 2 years from 1991 to 1993. It is a beautiful historic building in the heart of downtown and many locals enjoy performances by the cathedral choir or attend the Eccles Organ Festival.

Utah State Capitol Building – The building was originally completed in 1916 after years of struggle to raise enough for funding the building. From 2004 to 2008, the building was renovated and completed as originally planned. It has two active legislative chambers, a ceremonial supreme court chamber, and working offices. It also includes the Senate, House, and state office buildings. Families and school groups enjoy taking a tour of this historic government building.

The Beehive House – The home was built in 1854 and was home to Brigham Young and served as church offices for many years. Now, you can take a step back in time and discover restored rooms and objects from the early days of the city. You can also enjoy restaurants, a cafe, and a short 30 minute tour of the building.

Family History Library – The library is the largest family history library of its kind and is home to over 3 billion records of deceased ancestors from around the globe. People come from all over the world to do research in this unique library.

Temple Square – This 10-acre complex is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day and is located in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. It includes the Salt Lake City Temple, the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors’ centers. Many of the buildings were built in the late 1800’s.

Governor’s Mansion – You can enjoy a free public tour of this historic building during the months of June, July, August and December. The mansion was built in the 1800’s and is steeped in rich history.

Shopping

City Creek – City Creek is the premiere shopping district in Salt Lake and includes tons of retail shopping, dining, offices, hotels, and hosts a variety of events. You can shop till you drop when you explore this huge shopping center complete with a skybridge.

The Gateway – Home to more than a million square feet of shopping, dining, and modern living, The Gateway is a vibrant shopping center in Salt Lake. You’ll find a movie theater, Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Wiseguys Comedy Club, Dave & Buster’s, and much more!

Trolley Square – This trendy, high-end shopping center is a favorite for many locals. You’ll find a local brewery, several restaurants, high-end retailers, and several gyms. There’s even a Trolley Square History Museum where you can discover the history of the shopping center or take a tour of the historic tower.

Schools

The Schools in Salt Lake City are part of the Salt Lake City School District. It is the oldest school district in Utah, but the ninth largest in the state. Two of the high schools in the district are over 100 years old.

Elementary schools

Backman Elementary

Beacon Heights Elementary

Bonneville Elementary

Highland Park Elementary