Salt Lake City has long been the equivalent of Vatican city for the Mormon Church, but it's also gained cache with outdoor enthusiasts in recent years who've flocked to SLC for easy accessibility nearby Wasatch Mountains. The result is a unique city unlike elsewhere on earth, filled with religious institutions and tradition, but also a youthful, adventurous vibe.
Best of, you can get a taste of the items makes Salt Lake so special around the kind of budget befitting both families and dirtbag public lands devotees – free. From the classical downtown originally created for ox-drawn wagons to quirky sculpture gardens, public hiking trails, and even vast genealogical resources, there's something for everyone here that doesn't cost you a penny.
These would be the fourteen best free things to complete in Salt Lake City.
1. Beehive House
Brigham Young lived with one of his wives and families within the Beehive House during a lot of his tenure as governor and church president in Utah. The required tours vary; some offer historic house details over religious education, depending on the LDS docent. The attached 1855 Lion House, that was home to numerous Young's other wives, includes a self-service restaurant within the basement. You can to research the dining rooms during mealtimes.
2. Salt Lake City Main Library
You can perform a lot more than read a book at this library. Meander past dramatic glass-walled architecture, stroll through the roof garden or stop by the ground-floor shops (covering gardening to comic-book publishing). Many activities for kids are offered here, too.
3. Preservation Utah Tours
Preservation Utah offers (mostly) free tours of SLC's historic landmarks such as the Utah Governor's Mansion, Salt Lake City Building, McCune Mansion, Meditation Chapel in Memory Grove Park, or the Marmalade District on Capitol Hill. Additionally they distribute self-guided walking-tour brochures if you want to go your personal way without a docent. After suspending tours throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Preservation Utah is planning tours to restart in late spring of 2022. Check the website to learn more.
4. Temple Square
The city's most famous sight occupies a 10-acre block encompassed by 15ft-high walls. LDS docents give free, 30-minute tours continually, leaving in the visitor center in the entrance on North Temple St. Sisters, brothers and elders are stationed every 20ft or so to reply to questions. (Don't worry, no one is going to try to convert you – if you don't express interest.) The temple is closed for renovation from 2022 to 2024 but Temple Square's other sights remain open.
5. Family History Library
Thousands of individuals come to Salt Lake City every year to analyze their loved ones history here, the largest genealogical resource on earth. Since the LDS believes you have to pray on your ancestors' behalf to help them along their celestial path, it's acquired a mind-boggling amount of genealogical information to assist identify relatives. Volunteers scour the globe microfilming records within the tiniest of villages and then make them freely available here, as well as through libraries across the country.
6. Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Talk about obscure: Gilgal Garden is really a quirky little green space hidden in a residential neighborhood. Most notably, this tiny sculpture garden contains a giant stone sphinx wearing Mormon founder Joseph Smith's face.
7. The Utah State Capital
The city's most well-known sight occupies a 10-acre block surrounded by 15ft-high walls. LDS docents give free, 30-minute tours continually, leaving from the visitor center in the entrance on North Temple St. Sisters, brothers and elders are stationed every 20ft or so to reply to questions. (Don't worry, no one is going to try to convert you – unless you express interest.) The temple is closed for renovation from 2022 to 2024 but Temple Square's other sights remain open.
8. Church Fork Trail
Looking for the nearest workout with big views? Hike the 6-mile round-trip, pet-friendly trail as much as Grandeur Peak (8299ft). Mill Creek Canyon is 13.5 miles southwest of downtown.
9. Tabernacle
The domed, 1867 auditorium – with a massive 11,000-pipe organ – has incredible acoustics. A pin dropped right in front could be heard within the back, almost 200ft away. Free daily organ recitals are held at noon Monday through Saturday, and at 2pm Sunday.
10. Pioneer Memorial Museum
You'll find relics in the beginning at Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) museums throughout Utah, but the Pioneer Memorial Museum is definitely the largest. The vast, four-story treasure trove is much like Utah's attic, having a taxidermied two-headed lamb and human-hair artwork along with more predictable artifacts.
11. Olympic Cauldron Park
The University of Utah, or 'U of U,' was the site from the Olympic Village in 2002. This small, on-site park has giant panels detailing the games as well as offers the 72ft glass torch. A 10-minute, dramatic but heartfelt film booms with artificial fog and sound clips.
12. Wheeler Historic Farm
This free site provides a glimpse of what farm life was like for the early pioneers who settled here. Kids can help farmhands milk cows and there are also tractor-drawn wagon rides ($3) into the wooded back acres only at that historic 1898 farm. Around the farm house, containing many artifacts, are by reservation only and cost $4 for adults and $2 for kids.
13. Joseph Smith Memorial Building
East of the Brigham Young Monument, this building was the elegant Hotel Utah from 1911 until 1987. Inside, there's a large-screen theater with daily screenings of several films about Mormon beliefs, including a 65-minute showing of Joseph Smith: Prophet from the Restoration.
14. Church History Museum
Adjoining Temple Square, this interactive museum has impressive exhibits of pioneer background and fine art.
