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Utah Lore

Salt Lake magazine provides a rich and engaging exploration of Utah’s lore and history, offering readers a deeper understanding of the state’s unique cultural, historical and geographical heritage. Through a blend of storytelling and in-depth research, the magazine delves into Utah’s diverse past, highlighting everything from the early Native American inhabitants and the Mormon pioneers to the state’s role in Western expansion and the development of the American frontier.

The magazine often features stories that uncover forgotten events, little-known figures, and historic landmarks that have shaped Utah’s identity. Its coverage extends to the state’s folk traditions, ghost stories, and legends. Whether profiling historic towns, exploring the state’s natural wonders, or recounting famous events like the founding of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake magazine offers and contact perspective on Utah’s past recent and ancient.

Salt Lake magazine

Oct 31
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Local Haunts: Your Ghost Stories!

By Utah Lore

Salt Lake magazine gathered these ghost stories YOU submitted to us on saltlakemagazine.com and facebook.com/SaltLakemag. Read on for some spooky folklore in your neck of the woods!

Purple Lovin’ Ghost in Memory Grove

“Thought I would send over this little gem of a picture I took at Memory Grove a couple falls ago. The people who work at the Memorial House reception center in Memory Grove say it is haunted by a woman who loves the color purple. The ghost’s face appears in the window pane to the right, above the father’s head. I shot ten frames in this exact location, and in all the other frames, you can see my reflection in the window, but no face.

I wasn’t the one that noticed it, the client texted me late one night after I put her previews up on my blog to say that she had enlarged the photo and made it her screensaver, and that is when she saw it. She thought it was interesting because while we were taking the photos, I was telling them about the rumors I had heard about the ghost and how she liked the color purple and that since my client was wearing a purple sweater, maybe the ghost would visit us.

I go back there and shoot in that exact window every time I do a session in Memory Grove, but to date, have not captured anything like this since that day.” —Photographer, Carrie Butler, via e-mail

Editor’s Note—We called Memorial House, and they confirmed the rumors of a purple-loving, lady ghost.

Cottonwood Heights’ Haunted Mill

“One of my favorite haunted places is the Old Mill in Cottonwood Heights. We went to film there for fun, and the site already is eerie during the night after being shut down for several decades now. When we filmed into the old windows you could see eerie things going on through them that the camera was picking up. All in all, that place is just creepy and I swear it is haunted!” —Jamie Bowen, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Editor’s Note—Jamie is referring to the paper mill formerly used by the Deseret News at 6845 S. Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Ghost on the Green River

“Along the Green River, near Flaming Gorge, there is a lovely spot where river-rafters like to launch their crafts. My husband and I were to rendezvous with several friends for a day on the river. As we waited for everyone to arrive, I wandered the surrounding area until I found myself on a promontory overlooking the Green River and the spectacular red canyons beyond.

Here I sat down on a low rock, turned my face toward the sun, and closed my eyes, feeling deliciously warm and a little bit sleepy. That is when I felt it. Less than a touch, but more than a whisper, something was keeping me company. Well, something or…someone.

This is the part of my tale where I sound like a crazy woman. My new friend, the “whispery presence” let me know that this special place was where he used to sit and keep a lookout; watching and waiting, while fashioning arrowheads to fill the long hours.

He told me he had lost one of his arrowheads here, and if I would simply brush through the earth at my feet, I would find it. I didn’t doubt for a moment that I would indeed find his missing treasure. So, I slowly reached down, gently pushed aside the dirt and rocks at my fingertips, and gazed at the small gray arrowhead.” —Melanie Inskeep, via saltlakemagazine.com

The Old House in Draper

“I never believed in ghosts until one day I saw a little old house for sale on Fort St in Draper.

My husband & I got out & walked around it since it looked abandoned & immediately I had a strange feeling. It seemed like someone was watching us but there was nobody around.

Then the sprinklers came on & they were just connected to hoses – not the automatic kind. I ran back to the car but my husband looked in the windows & said nobody could possibly be living there since the few things inside were covered with dust & cobwebs. SCARY!” —Sonja Jorgensen, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Asylum 49 Meetup in Tooele

“I visited Asylum 49 in Tooele for their first official meetup. My friend and I both noticed an eerie feeling in one area of the room we were in. Since we both had felt it in the same spot, I was sure it wasn’t just my imagination.

Later, as I was about to leave, we were taken through the old hospital and I glanced down a hall and a door was open to one of the old rooms. The guy who was leading us out noticed I was looking in that direction and asked if I’d seen anything. I hadn’t seen anything, but I had a feeling there was something especially strange about that room. He told us that was where a number of people died, which would explain the negative energy that seemed to spill out into the hallway from that area of the hospital.” —Brianna Kent, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Editor’s Note—Asylum 49 Paranormal Investigators are a local ghost hunting group, who meet in the old Tooele Hospital. Recently, an episode of Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel was filmed at the hospital.

Horror Scene at SLC Cemetery

“You all have seen it in the movies. Someone is trying to escape harm and the engine to their car will not start. Crank, crank, crank, and then at the last minute the car starts and they get away. Don’t you hold your breath when that happens…” Come on, come on. Oh thank God”.

My boyfriend lived in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City, his apartment adjacent to a cemetery. It was a peaceful and serene scene during the day and I would often appreciate its beauty. But at night, when I would leave his apartment to drive home, the rustling of leaves,the moaning of the wind, the squeal of a cat, the shadowy figures cutting through the grave yard to walk home or perhaps just wander,made my heart pound. What was I really hearing and who was I really seeing? At night I always held my breath until I had driven past the headstones. Safe again.

One winter night it had been snowing. Freezing outside, a white blanket covered my car. As I left the apartment to go home, the grave yard looked particularly eerie. I wanted to get away as quickly as I could. I began to move out from the curb, but my car became stuck. I was panicked. I pressed on the gas harder and spinning my wheels my car became more embedded in the snow. I could feel the graveyard closing in on me. I put the car in forward, then reverse over and over again. Could I rock my car out?

I was shaking. I was sure I could see movement in the graveyard. I couldn’t swallow. My legs were shaking so hard I could barely keep my foot on the gas pedal.

Then I felt a loud thump and a banging on the trunk of my car. My heart jumped, I became paralyzed with fear.

Someone, something, started to walk along the side of the car to the drivers window. My heart was pounding out of my chest. A figure leaned against my car door.

Then a familiar voice. “Put your car in drive, I’m gong to try to push you out.”

And when we got married, I would not live in that beautiful apartment adjacent to the cemetery graced by day and perhaps haunted by night. We sometimes drive to see his old apartment, looking at the window that was once his, and I look across to the graveyard, the trees, and the headstones, and am thankful that we live really really far away.” —Lynne Cohen, via saltlakemagazine.com

Ghost at the Old Spaghetti Factory

“I had a ghost touch me on the shoulder and say “Hi” close to my ear. I was having dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square. When I turned around no one was there.” —Angela Richey, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Spooky House in West Valley

“I have a spooky story. So there is a house in West Valley that my friend used to live at. It was a typical red-brick house with a ground floor and a basement. Well, we were at her house alone one day in the basement room directly at the bottom of the stairs. To the right was a door to a bathroom. Both the door to the room we were in and the door to the bathroom were wide open. We actually saw the door to the bathroom close, and we didn’t think anything of it. Probably a draft or something. But then we hear the toilet seat slam and we think someone else must be in the house. So we go and check to see if her family is home. No go. So we go back downstairs and the door to the bathroom is still closed, and then we hear the toilet flush. Both of us start wigging out a little thinking someone is in the bathroom, so we open the door and no one is there. The window in the bathroom was too small for anyone to have gone through! Spooky right?” —Steve Scriven, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Bad Vibes at Kay’s Cross

“There is a part of the path leading to Kay’s Cross in Kaysville that is narrow and has a fence on both sides. My friends and I would always get really “bad vibes” when going through there. Everywhere else was fine, but when we went through the narrow path we all stopped talking at the same time and walked really fast. It felt like something (other than cops and the guy that owns the land) didn’t want us there.” —Brittany Hackett, via facebook.com/SaltLakemag

Editor’s Note—Some submissions were edited due to length or clarity.

This story was originally published in 2013, but we also have more up-to-date ghost stories! Read all about the famed Skinwalker ranch, here.

Sep 27
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Satire How to Drive in Utah

By Utah Lore

so you moved to Utah and you’re like, “Mom, the drivers here are THE WORST.” And your mom is like, “Are you going to turn Mormon?” That last part is up to you but meanwhile let us set you straight on the rules of the road in the Beehive State.

Utah Drivers

Yellow lights: More of an option here in Utah. You need to get to your date with utahisrad82. If you have to stop at a red light, for some reason, you can text utahisrad82 and let them know that you’ll “BRT.” Don’t worry about when the light turns green. Finish your text. We’ll wait.

Utah Drivers

Turn signals: These are optional and more of a question, really. Like, “Hey I was thinking about coming over into your lane as indicated by this blinky light. May I?” No. You may not.

Four-way stops: Driver’s ed was sooo long ago. Who can even remember how they are supposed to work? Just treat them like a game of chicken.

Merging: Under no circumstances let anyone in. You have to win at all costs. We hear tell about something called a “zipper.” This a myth perpetuated by carpet baggers from back east, somewhere.

Utah Drivers

Left-hand turns: If you are proceeding through the intersection and a driver turning left misjudges the distance and turns in front of you, DO NOT reduce speed. Make sure you almost, but don’t quite, T-bone them to help them understand what a crappy driver they are. They know what they did.

Roundabouts: These came from somewhere back east or something, Europe? We don’t know how to use these. Let the spirit guide you.

Pedestrians: Why are you even walking? If for some reason you are (are you a Poor?), just realize you are invisible to the people in the giant death-dealing metal boxes who are late for Tinder dates. Those orange flags at the crosswalks are invisible too. But keep waving them like a you’re a signalman on the deck of a clipper ship. It’s funny.

Distance: Just get right up on the bumper of the car in front you. That way they will know you are there.

Speed limits: Either 15 mph more than what the sign says or 15 less. Those signs with the numbers are really just helpful suggestions and an opportunity to practice your basic arithmetic skills.

Speed: Be sure to match the speed of the driver next to you to create a “wedge of self-righteousness” for the drivers behind you. (Thanks for the tip, Dave Hatch). Bonus if you can hang out in the blind spot of the driver next to you.

Cyclists: Are jerks. Buzz them and remember that for you the risk is only a broken side mirror. For them, it’s a potential trip to the hospital and/or death. Optional: Yell, “get a car!” as you make them poop their spandex shorts.

Passing lanes: Huh? All the lanes belong to you. Pick the one that feels right and just hang out. The people behind you will go around and glare at you as they pass. Ignore that.

Apr 10
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SECRET SLC: The Utah Flood of 1983

By Community, Utah Lore

Salt Lake is a city built on secrets. Its origin tale is wrapped up with the “Bible 2.0” Exodus of Brigham Young and his followers, the Latter-day Saints, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (officially) or the Mormons (colloquially and historically). The Mormons first arrived here in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, from Nauvoo, Ill. Brigham wanted his followers to be left alone to practice the LDS faith and, yep it gets weird, to establish a short-lived autonomous nation called the Kingdom of Deseret. It is, as we say around here, a heck of a story.

In the late 1800s, federal troops, discovered rich veins of copper and silver and paved the way for the age of the silver barons and more outside influence. The east-west railroad brought an influx of laborers who would add diversity to the mix, and Utah’s admission to the United States, in 1896, brought even more changes. Still, Utah remained apart with a dominant religion, which often dictated politics and individual conscience. The point is: this whole delicious frontier mix of history made an atmosphere perfect for the cultivation of mushroom-like secrets.

Utah Flooding in 1983
This rock located on State Street commemorates the Utah Flood of 1983 that turned State Street into a river. Photo by Jeremy Pugh

The Utah Flood of 1983 and ‘The State Street River’

What: Evidence of the 1983 State Street Flood Where: 1324 S. State Street, SLC

In the Spring of 1983, the culmination of two very snowy seasons became a crisis for Salt Lake City. The first signs of danger appeared in late April of that year when a 40-foot hole opened up in Emigration Canyon Road to the east of the city. According to Neil Stack of Salt Lake City Flood Control, “The massive crater was created when water from the surrounding hillsides seeped deep into the ground until it stopped behind a natural sandstone table and an impenetrable layer of soil under the road.”

With May came rains that quickly melted lower-elevation snowpack and added more moisture to high-elevation snow. Flooding and mudslides in the foothills around Salt Lake City rang the alarm bells. A meeting was held in the office of Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson to discuss the potential of flooding, Discussions began about deliberately flooding parts of the city to accommodate what was fast becoming a perfect storm of snowmelt.

On May 26, 1983, Salt Lake City declared an emergency and decided to dike 1300 South to convey floodwaters from Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Canyons to the Jordan River. The Salt Lake Tribune headlines that day read, “Mayor Calls Emergency, As Waters Flood Street.” The story reported that “the mayor, after considering options and the impact of allowing Mountain Dell Reservoir in Parleys Canyon to overflow, proclaimed emergency to begin immediate sandbagging.” Water released from the eastern canyons began flowing west toward the Jordan River down 1300 South, past Derks Field, the minor league baseball field (now Smith’s Ballpark). A bridge over the “river” was built for fans to attend the Salt Lake Trappers opening day game.

But there was more to come. On May 29, City Creek, to the north of the city, breached its banks and started to flood downtown SLC. More than 6,000 volunteers (some estimates say 10,000) were called out to sandbag State Street to the 1300 South diversion into the Jordan River. Mayor Wilson called the effort “the biggest street festival ever.”

The two rivers, especially The State Street River, became a sensation in the days that followed. Bridges were built over State Street and thousands of valley residents came downtown to marvel at the sight and walk along the “riverside.” There are accounts of kayakers and tubers plying the waters and half-serious fishermen dipping lines into the rushing waters.

Fun Fact from The Utah Flood of 1983

Mayor Ted Wilson turned to leaders at the LDS Church to call up volunteers; however, the need was greatest on Sunday morning, a day when LDS Church members are not supposed to work. Gordon B. Hinkley, who would eventually become LDS President but was then a counselor in the First Presidency, famously said, “Well, the ox is in the mire,” and gave the order to cancel Sunday services so that members could join the sandbagging crews that were fighting to save Salt Lake City.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Secret Salt Lake opens a window into the weird, the bizarre, and obscure secrets of Salt Lake, that are often hiding in plain sight. The guidebook, written by Salt Lake magazine editors Jeremy Pugh and Mary Brown Malouf is a collection of odd tales, urban myths, legends and historical strangeness here in the Beehive State. Get your copy from Reedy Press today and read more about the secrets and oddities of Utah. Read more secrets in our Newcomer’s Guide.

Feb 03
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Secret SLC: The Sphinx of Salt Lake

By Utah Lore

Salt Lake is a city built on secrets. Its origin tale is wrapped up with the “Bible 2.0” Exodus of Brigham Young and his followers, the Latter-day Saints, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (officially) or the Mormons (colloquially and historically). The Mormons first arrived here in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, after a long and insanely dangerous trek from Nauvoo, Ill. Technically it was Mexican territory, but the Mexican-American War was about to get underway and much bigger dogs than Brigham and his rag-tag band of Mormons were squaring off for a fight. Brigham wanted his followers to be left alone to practice the LDS faith and, yep it gets weird, to establish a short-lived autonomous nation called the Kingdom of Deseret (which got as far as developing its own language and currency, BTW). It is, as we say around here, a heck of a story.

In the late 1800s, federal troops, sent here to put the kibosh on this whole Kingdom thing, discovered rich veins of copper and silver and paved the way for the age of the silver barons and more outside influence. The east-west railroad brought an influx of laborers who would add diversity to the mix, and Utah’s admission to the United States, in 1896, brought even more changes. Still, Utah remained apart with a dominant religion, which often dictated politics and individual conscience. The point is that this delicious frontier mix of history made an atmosphere perfect for cultivating mushroom-like secrets.

THE SPHYNX OF SALT LAKE CITY

  • What: A Collection of Esoteric Sculptures called Gilgal Garden

  • Where: 749 E. 500 South, SLC

It was a legend among Salt Lake teenagers in the ’70s and ’80s: a bizarre sculpture garden located in the middle of Salt Lake with a menagerie of odd Mormon-themed statues and rock art installations. What adventurous teen wouldn’t want to sneak into a strange yard filled with bizarre carvings featuring ominous Biblical verses set in the stones, and (why not?) a sphinx-like creature bearing the visage of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith? 

The works sprang from the mind of outsider artist Thomas Battersby Child Jr., a Mormon bishop, local businessman and stonemason. Child tinkered relentlessly in the backyard of his childhood home building his Gilgal (a word that means “circle of stones” in Hebrew and is a place name in the Book of Mormon). Child was self-taught; he made it all up as he went along, and his creations are excellent examples of outsider art. The sculptures are large and imposing, and a walk through the garden is a tour through Child’s eclectic fascinations with masonry and his musings on the relationship of Mormonism with the ancient world. The show pony is the Sphinx-Smith, but be sure to note Child’s self-portrait, a man constructed entirely of bricks. 

After Child’s death, the garden became an oddity—almost an urban legend—and, while the mystique of hopping the fence to see the place was a dare-worthy part of life for SLC teens, the artworks fell prey to the elements and vandalism. In the late 1990s, the property was put up for sale, and a coalition of private citizens, public entities and nonprofit groups worked to preserve the site. 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Secret Salt Lake opens a window into the weird, bizarre, and obscure secrets of Salt Lake, that are often hiding in plain sight. The guidebook, written by Salt Lake magazine editors Jeremy Pugh and Mary Brown Malouf is a collection of odd tales, urban myths, legends and historical strangeness here in the Beehive State. Get your copy from Reedy Press today and read more about the secrets and oddities of Utah.

Jan 20
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Secret SLC: Utah’s ‘Black Dahlia’

By Utah Lore

Salt Lake is a city built on secrets. Its origin tale is wrapped up with the “Bible 2.0” Exodus of Brigham Young and his followers, the Latter-day Saints, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (officially) or the Mormons (colloquially and historically). The Mormons first arrived here in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, after a long and insanely dangerous trek from Nauvoo, Ill. Technically it was Mexican territory, but the Mexican-American War was about to get underway and much bigger dogs than Brigham and his rag-tag band of Mormons were squaring off for a fight. Brigham wanted his followers to be left alone to practice the LDS faith and, yep it gets weird, to establish a short-lived autonomous nation called the Kingdom of Deseret (which got as far as developing its own language and currency, BTW). It is, as we say around here, a heck of a story.

In the late 1800s, federal troops, sent here to put the kibosh on this whole Kingdom thing, discovered rich veins of copper and silver and paved the way for the age of the silver barons and more outside influence. The east-west railroad brought an influx of laborers who would add diversity to the mix, and Utah’s admission to the United States, in 1896, brought even more changes. Still, Utah remained apart with a dominant religion, which often dictated politics and individual conscience. The point is: this whole delicious frontier mix of history made an atmosphere perfect for the cultivation of mushroom-like secrets.

DORTHY MOORMEISTER: UTAH’S ‘BLACK DAHLIA’

  • What: The last known whereabouts of Dorothy Moormeister

  • Where: The Hotel Utah (Now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building), 15 E. South Temple, SLC

The victim is the young wife of a prominent and wealthy physician. The story has suitors, insinuated affairs, missing jewels and even an Arabian prince. It sounds like an Agatha Christie novel, but it all happened in Salt Lake City. Just after midnight on February 22, 1930, the brutally disfigured body of Dorothy Moormeister, 32, was found on the western edge of Salt Lake City. She had been repeatedly run over with her own car. Dorothy’s husband was Dr. Frank Moormeister, a physician and abortionist for the local brothels. Dr. Moormeister was much older than his wife, who had a wild social life and actively solicited the attention of other men. 

One of these men, Charles Peter, was the prime suspect in her death. He had allegedly urged Dorothy to divorce her husband and fleece him in the settlement. Additionally, the doctor had loaned Peter a large sum of money and had, as partial payment, taken from Peter a valuable pendant. The pendant was among the jewelry missing from Dorothy’s body. Another suitor, Prince Farid XI, who had met the Moormeisters during an excursion to Paris, was rumored to have been in Salt Lake City at the time. Afterward, there were letters discovered intimating that Dorothy had designs to run away with him. 

On the night of her murder, Dorothy was seen entering the Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) at around 6 p.m. She left a short time later with two men and another woman. Dr. Moormeister claimed to have gone out to see a movie alone during this time period. The autopsy revealed traces of absinthe in Dorothy’s stomach. A search also revealed that she had been hiding money in various safety deposit boxes around town and had drafted some recent changes in her will, but she had not signed them officially.

However, despite all the intrigue and a massive effort by county investigators—they even brought in a private detective who was considered popularly as the “Sherlock Holmes” of his time—the killer was never brought to justice. 

Secret Salt Lake City

ABOUT THE BOOK: Secret Salt Lake opens a window into the weird, the bizarre, and obscure secrets of Salt Lake, that are often hiding in plain sight. The guidebook, written by Salt Lake magazine editors Jeremy Pugh and Mary Brown Malouf is a collection of odd tales, urban myths, legends and historical strangeness here in the Beehive State. Get your copy from Reedy Press today and read more about the secrets and oddities of Utah.

Jan 12
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Behind the Beehive

By Community, Utah Lore

They’re everywhere—on the state highway signs, on the Capitol building, on the state flag, on manhole covers. Dozens of Salt Lake businesses begin their name with “beehive” — Beehive Bail Bonds, Beehive Auto, Beehive Elementary School, Beehive Credit Union, Beehive Title Insurance, Beehive Glass. Insurance companies, scooter sellers, clothing stores—all use the logo of a beehive, which is actually a coiled straw dome, called a skep, that hasn’t been used to house bees for over 100 years. There’s a beehive fountain in front of the Brigham Young Academy; the Beehive Society is the oldest honor society on the University of Utah campus and each summer Salt Lake magazine rolls out accolades in our Best of the Beehive issue.

No wonder visitors ask, “Where are the bees?” But I’m surprised how few native and resident Utahns even know the reason Utah is called “The Beehive State.” It has nothing to do with the proliferation of Apis mellifera, the scientific name for the western honey bee. The state ranks 24th in the U.S. for honey production.

Ancient symbolism

“The beehive has been used as a symbol for thousands of years,” according to historian Mark Staker, an expert on early Mormon anthropology at the LDS Church’s Family History Center. “The Bible refers to the ‘Promised Land’ as ‘the land of milk and honey.'” Of course, there were no honeybees in the ancient Middle East. “The European monks whose scriptoria kept The Bible in print before Gutenberg came along had no way of knowing that Biblical honey was most likely date honey and had nothing to do with bees. So, they incorporated bees and the cooperative life of the hive into early Christian symbolism,” explains Staker. Freemasons also used the bee and beehive as symbols of cooperative work, and the images are found in early American art and literature. “Many of the founding fathers were Masons, and America had become the new ‘promised land’ of opportunity,” says Staker. Many early Mormons were also Masons, including one particularly important Mason/Mormon: Joseph Smith. The Book of Ether in The Book of Mormon (books within books) tells the story of the Jaredites, a tribe that lived at the time of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament. According to The Book of Mormon, the Jaredites made a miraculous 344-day voyage across the ocean to North America. They brought with them the “Deseret” which means “honey bee” in the nomenclature of The Book of Mormon

The State of the Hive

When Brigham Young and the Latter-day Saints arrived in Salt Lake Valley in July of 1847, Young chose the name “Deseret” for their new home, and the beehive as its emblem, symbolizing the kind of cooperative work that would be required to make the desert bloom. Images of bees and beehives—the traditional skep, five of which the Mormons brought with them on their trek—were used in much early church construction embellishments. Notably, on the interior and exterior of the Salt Lake Temple and, famously, on Brigham Young’s own Beehive House, which is crowned with a carved bee skep. Newell posts, doorknobs, windows and all bore the emblem of a beehive. Mark Twain commented on the Utah beehive symbol in his book on the 1860s American West, Roughing It, saying, “The Mormon crest was easy. And it was simple, unostentatious and it fitted like a glove. It was a representation of a Golden Beehive, with all the bees at work.” On October 11, 1881, an article in The Deseret News explained the symbolism: “The hive and honey bees form our communal coat of arms. … It is a significant representation of the industry, harmony, order and frugality of the people, and of the sweet results of their toil, union and intelligent cooperation.”

Of course, you can’t go too far with the etymological comparison or you raise awkward implications. What about drones? What about the queen bee? “The meaning of the beehive shifted a little as Brigham Young’s Deseret became a territory, then a state,” says Staker. “It lost some of its religious connections but the community connotations continued.” The beehive still serves as the logo of some Church-related organizations, but it’s come to symbolize the whole state of Utah. When Utah territory became a state in 1896, it retained the beehive symbol in its state seal and on its flag. The state adopted the beehive as its official symbol in 1959, designated the honeybee as the state insect, and even named the “beehive cluster” as the state’s astronomical symbol. Utah is known as “The Beehive State,” and businesses continue to name themselves after the antique skep, many of them without knowing what a bee skep is, or where the bees are. But even without them knowing it, the beehive has become an everyday icon that links present-day Utahns—Mormons and non-Mormons—with their pioneer past.

Oct 26
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4 Scariest Ghost Towns in Utah

By Utah Lore

If you’re planning a spooky road trip, how about trying something a little different? Here’s a list of some of Utah’s scariest Ghost Towns.

1. Sego, Utah

Once a booming coal town and now a lonely ghost town. The discovery of coal brought this small town to prominence. Natural resources couldn’t keep up with its growth and the shortage of water became a constant problem. Mines kept experiencing power outages and one after the other, miners left to test their luck elsewhere. Despite a majority of miners leaving, a small group decided to stay behind. With all odds against them, they brought back to life the once thriving mining town. Everything seemed to be in their favor until the town caught fire twice. All that’s left: a big red rock building and coal fires that still burn within the mining shafts.

2. 9 Mile Canyon

This ghost town is located in Price, Utah, which is approximately two hours away from Salt Lake City. It has been described as “the world’s longest art gallery.” 9 Mile Canyon offers a variety of recreational activities ranging from hiking, biking and picnicking. In addition, visitors can spend time viewing the prehistoric drawings lining the walls of the canyon. Overall, 9 Mile has plenty of history and recreation to offer if you’re willing to make the trip this summer.

3. Thistle Ghost Town

Established in 1883, Thistle was once a thriving farming community. In April 1983, a massive landslide hit the town, forcing its residents to evacuate. Currently labeled as one of the costliest landslides in U.S. history. Visitors traveling from along Route 89 can still see houses popping up out of the water.

4. Home of Truth

After the death of her husband Marie Ogden started The Truth Center out in New Jersey. Eventually, she and her followers relocated to Dry Valley, Utah. Three groups of buildings made up the compound. The innermost building housed Ogden and her divine typewriter which she claimed received revelations from heaven. Things really turned a wrong corner when one of Ogden’s followers, Edith Peshak, died of cancer. Eventually, people found out that Ogden had one of her followers burn the body while telling the rest of the group that she would come back to life. Consequently, many of her followers left and Ogden eventually passed away. The three buildings are still intact and visitors can still see the Inner Portal building, which housed Ogden. Home of Truth is located near Monticello, Utah, which is roughly five hours from Salt Lake City.

Discover more Utah Lore, and find all our Community coverage.  And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah?

Oct 19
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Satire: A Guide to Ordering Liquor in Utah

By Utah Lore

The regulatory body over alcohol sales in Utah is touting a new, cuddlier image. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Department is out. Now, it’s the Department of Alcohol Beverage Services. That’s right, they’re here to serve us—the drinkers. The DABC DABS has a new online ordering system and a version of wine subscriptions in the works, but it’s hard to give everyone what they want, and our local liquor stores might not carry your spirit of choice. In that spirit (see what we did there?), Salt Lake Magazine has put together this handy guide to the “service-oriented” special ordering process to acquire your favorite tipple.

ordering liquor Utah

The latest from the DABS

While the promised, more user friendly, DABS ordering system is still in the works, Utah’s version of wine of the month clubs has arrived. Boutique wine broker Vin7000 announced that they were the only way for Utahns to experience popular wine clubs, and it seems like that might be the case, at least for right now. Utah law forbids direct-to-consumer shipping of alcohol to Utah residents (although Utah winemakers can ship it to consumers out of state), but the Utah State Legislature recently budged on that front…sort of. Now, Utah residents can theoretically sign up for wine of the month clubs, but they have to ship their orders to a state liquor store and pay an 88% markup.

According to the announcement from Vin7000, they deal exclusively with small, independent, family-owned wineries and wines that are typically limited production and not otherwise available in Utah. Currently, customers can choose from six wine clubs to join, through the DABS ordering system, and their regular shipments are delivered to the Utah State Liquor Store of their choice.

The bar scene is dealing with red tape as well. At the most recent DABS meeting, the regulatory body gave out no new full-bar licenses to the 11 businesses trying to acquire them, and the DABS might have only one available to dole out come the next meeting. Two bars are currently ready to go and operating with tavern licenses (which means they can serve low-point beer), West Side Tavern and Fisher Brewing Company in Salt Lake City. Of the bars that will be ready to open and operate in the upcoming weeks or months, there’s LBGTQ+ club called Verse, hoping to expand the list of Utah’s diverse nightlife options. The next DABS meeting will is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2022.

Are you enamored with the Beehive state’s ludicrous liquor laws? Read a full history of drinking in Utah here.