Brigham Young Complex | |
 The Brigham Young Complex. From left to right: Lion House, Church Office, Church President's/Governor's Office, and Beehive House. | |
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| Location | 63-67 E. South Temple,Salt Lake City,Utah |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°46′11.2″N111°53′19.6″W / 40.769778°N 111.888778°W /40.769778; -111.888778 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | Angell, Truman O.; Ward, William |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000739 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966[1] |
| Designated NHLD | January 28, 1964[2] |
TheBrigham Young Complex is a collection of buildings historically associated with the second President and leader of theLDS ChurchBrigham Young, on East South Temple in the center ofSalt Lake City,Utah.
The complex, the surviving part of a once-larger compound belonging to Young, includes theBeehive House, Young's family residence, theLion House, his official residence as church leader and governor of theUtah Territory, and two small office buildings he used for official business.[3] The complex is aNational Historic Landmark District for its association with Young, whose leadership included the rapid expansion of Mormon settlement across the American West. It is located at the southeastern corner of the enlargedTemple Square area, occupying the northwest corner of East South Temple and State Street.
The Brigham Young Complex is set apart from later construction by a rubble wall, portions of which were originally placed when Brigham Young designated the site in the 1850s, and portions are relocated to the area's north and west boundaries due to road widening projects. From right to left, the complex consists of the Beehive House, the President's Office, the Governor's Office, and the Lion House. The buildings are stylistically reminiscent of earlier 19th-century New England styles, with some Gothic detailing.Truman O. Angell was responsible for the design of the buildings, all of which were built in the 1850s. The right three buildings are now joined by a modern ell in the rear.[4]
These houses were the residence ofBrigham Young from 1852 until his death in 1877. AsPresident ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) at the time of theMormon settlement of theSalt Lake Valley, Young and his home were pivotal in the development of the Church, Utah, and theAmerican west. The two houses were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and the landmark designation was later expanded to include the two office buildings.
Prior to the construction of these buildings, Young housed his family and conducted the affairs of the church and territory from log structures which no longer stand. The first of the surviving buildings to be finished was the Governor's Office, built in 1852–4. It was used by Young to house his civic administration of the Deseret Territory, later theUtah Territory. The President's Office and Beehive House were completed in 1855; the former was the seat of church business, while the Beehive House served as a ceremonial governor's mansion. The Lion House was erected in 1855–56, and was designed to house Young's large family (12 wives and 35 children).[4][5]
The buildings are now owned by theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the Beehive House is open for tours, and the Lion House is operated as an event venue. In 2020, the Brigham Young Complex and other historic sites on Temple Square were closed to the public due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Media related toBrigham Young Complex at Wikimedia Commons
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