Utah Historical Society

09/22/2026

Thanks to a 20-year fundraising and labor-of-love effort spearheaded by community leaders William and Nettie Gregory, the Nettie Gregory Center opened its doors in 1964. The Center served for decades as the first civic space built by and for Black Utahns in Salt Lake City. Created to address segregation and a lack of resources, the "Nettie" functioned as a vital hub where youth and families found a safe haven, organized holiday celebrations, and accessed essential youth mentoring, drop-in daycare, and civil rights organizing through the NAACP.

Beyond social gatherings, the center served as a career and leadership launching pad by providing summer jobs, resume workshops, tutoring, and college scholarships. Although forced to close in the mid-2010s due to financial strain, ongoing efforts by community leaders and state historic preservation offices led to the building's placement on the National Register of Historic Places, securing grant opportunities to restore and reopen the center to empower future generations.

You can learn more about the Nettie Gregory Center on our blog, https://history.utah.gov/blog/the-power-of-place-how-the-nettie-gregory-center-brought-a-community-together/

And in the Peoples Online exhibit, https://peoplesonline.history.utah.gov/s/peoples-online/page/nettie-gregory

📸: People in Nettle Gregory community building Nettie Gregory Building, February 1961
📸: Tammy Young in front of Nettie Gregory Center, 1974
📸: Group of young men playing billiards at the Nettie Gregory Center after school activities, 2008

09/21/2026

Calling all storytellers and community builders! We need YOU to help us lead the way at the Museum of Utah.

Our tour calendar will be live soon, and we are officially recruiting our first cohort of docents to bring our exhibits to life for visitors. Docents are the heartbeat of our museum - they lead engaging tours, spark curiosity, and make sure every visitor leaves inspired.

Whether you are guiding a public group, answering questions about the Mormon Meteor III, or facilitating a great conversation, you will be the welcoming face of the museum.

Want to lead tours but don't have experience? We've got you covered. Before you step out onto the museum floor, you’ll complete our Professional Development Docent Training this November. You’ll learn insider knowledge from our curators and develop transferable skills in public speaking, accessibility, and audience engagement.

Ready to join our team of tour guides? Fill out the docent application, here: https://forms.gle/5UZPG5zkwN1phx288

09/21/2026

This fall, we're sharing the history of the Dominguez and Escalante Expedition. Here's Episode 1:

In September 1776, the Dominguez and Escalante Expedition crossed the Uintah Basin from present-day Dinosaur, New Mexico to Strawberry Reservoir in about a week! Guided by a Timpanogos Ute they called "Sylvestre," they covered up to 30 miles per day on horseback. They documented the rivers, high desert, forests, and mountain ranges they saw, and they noted how cold it was in this region.

Learn more at https://america250.utah.gov/power-of-place/

09/21/2026

In Salt Lake City, the International Peace Gardens were created as a tribute to peace and understanding between nations.

The International Peace Gardens is one of two peace gardens in the United States, founded in 1939 by Mrs. Otto Wiesley, Citizen Chair of the Salt Lake Council of Women. Each “country” in the garden is managed by a Utah-based nation group that committed to beautify their section at their own expense, while maintained by the Salt Lake City Parks Division. 28 countries are represented, symbolizing the spirit of democracy and world peace, history, literature, and cultural heritage.

Learn more about the garden at https://www.slc.gov/parks/parks-division/international-peace-gardens/

📸: Wiesley, Mrs. Otto; Allan; Shool, April 1951
📸: Henry Kasai and others at Japanese garden
📸: International Peace Garden Group, August 1952
📸: Scene of the International Peace Garden in the Salt Lake valley
📸: Landy, Chhor, Sokly and Sokleng Lach at International Peace Garden, 1988

09/21/2026

We are so excited to attend the Western Museums Association and Utah Museums Association conference this week! The annual meeting is a distinct opportunity for museum people to exchange ideas, learn from peers in unique sessions, and cultivate skills to best serve their communities through museums.

See you there!

We are so excited to see our community in Salt Lake City next week! Online registration closes tomorrow, so there is still time to join us! Visit our website for more info.😁

09/17/2026

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 is an American federal observance to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The day also recognizes those who have become a U.S. citizen. It was formally designated by the United States Congress on February 29, 1952.

Did you know that the Museum of Utah features a citizenship test quiz in our “Becoming Utah” gallery? You can test your knowledge of U.S. history and government, and explore more about what it means to be civically engaged.

09/16/2026

Do you know what it takes to be a rodeo queen? These remarkable women must be able to compete in the traditional pageant categories of beauty and public speaking, but they also must have horsemanship and equestrian knowledge.

In 2023, the Utah Historical Society conducted oral history interviews with rodeo queens, such as Brandi Olsen, to fill in the history of this underrepresented women’s group. Learn more about rural Utah women who have competed in state fairs and other rodeos in our digital collection: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6qsw4yr and in the Peoples Online exhibit: https://peoplesonline.history.utah.gov/s/peoples-online/page/rodeo_queens

Rodeo queens are featured in the Museum of Utah’s current temporary gallery, “The Past is Personal.”

You could also check out the rodeo events at the 170th Utah State Fair that’s happening now thru September 20 at the Utah Fairpark in Salt Lake City.

09/15/2026

The Museum Store celebrates Hispanic Heritage with Papel Picado artwork, bilingual children’s fiesta books, Mexican textiles and more. ¡Vamos a celebrar!

Visit the Museum Store at the Capitol Complex, open daily. Find hours and more information at history.utah.gov/museum

09/12/2026

September 7 was National Beer Lovers Day and the history of beermaking in the beehive state is more complex than you might think!

As early as 1850, European immigrants who were part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had opened small breweries serving the growing population surrounding Salt Lake City. Within a few decades, Utah was home to some of the biggest breweries west of the Mississippi River. The Salt Lake Brewing Company, Becker Beer, H. Wagener, and A. Fisher Brewing Companies all found success selling their products throughout the Intermountain West.

By the time the U.S. passed nationwide prohibition laws, more than 50 breweries had opened in Utah serving only a fraction of today's population.

Then, by the time the country was ready to repeal Prohibition, Utah was the state to do it. On December 5th, 1933, Utah became the 36th state to vote in favor of repeal, becoming the deciding state to ratify the 21st Amendment.

Since the 1980s, enterprising Utahns have worked to rebuild the industry that once thrived in 19th century Utah. Today, Utah is home to ~40 breweries serving communities throughout the state.

Images from the Utah Historical Society Collection

09/08/2026

of Salt Lake City's Main Street, facing south toward the Walker Bank Building, now the Walker Center Tower.

Did you know that the Walker Bank Building was built in 1912 as the tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco? While it might not be the tallest anymore, it certainly still is a landmark for Salt Lake City.

The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

📸 1: Main Street in 1972 from the Classified Photograph Collection
📸 2: Main Street in 2026 from a UHS Walking Tour

P.S. If you're interested in learning more Utah history, join UHS on a walking tour this September!

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/womenshistoryinitiative/event/fihfawhtoslcc/