Utah Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum

During many drives between Salt Lake City and St. George (Utah) to visit Zion National Park or Snow Canyon State Park, I’ve noticed a sign for the Territorial Statehouse. On my most recent drive south, I made it a point to check it out.

The Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum is a nice way to break up a long drive across Utah. There’s a nearby park so kids can stretch their legs, too.

Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find at this historic site in Fillmore, Utah. If you’ve got a Utah State Parks Annual Pass, it’s even more worth a stop – because the visit is free.

History of the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore

Before Utah became a state, it was designated the Utah Territory. In 1851, Governor Brigham Young designated a central site for the capitol. Construction of the building began in 1852, and called for three levels and four wings.

The first wing was completed in time for the Territorial Legislature to meet in 1855. In 1856, the decision was made to return the seat of government, and thus the capitol, to Salt Lake City.

The red sandstone building remains today, with an outline on the ground showing the footprint of the finished building.

The Many Uses of the Territorial Statehouse

Right off the bat, you’ll be surprised by the number of historical photos of people hanging in the basement corridor. Each one has a little story about them. One that caught my attention is shared at the bottom of this post.

Mary Johnston Huntsman apparently threw a cup of coffee in Brigham Young’s face when asked about her husband taking on a second wife. That was her answer. Haha!

The Utah Territorial Statehouse was used as many things over the years. It was fascinating to see historical artifacts and the stories each one told.

• The basement served as a hiding place for the Deseret News press for two months when an army was en route to Salt Lake City.
• One room served as a holding cell for prisoners. There’s a little bed and shackle, along with documents showing reasons for imprisonment.
• The building hosted community meetings, dances, school, the theater and more.

Other rooms in the basement of the building display historic artifacts. You can see firearms from the 1800s, farming equipment, silverware, transportation, cameras and much more.

School, Music, Furniture and the Playroom

The second floor of the Utah Territorial Statehouse looks more like a proper house. There’s a room that school teachers would stay in. There’s even a piece of paper that shows how many lashings students would receive for breaking rules. For example:

• Boys and Girls Playing Together = 4 lashes
• Giving Each Other Ill Names = 3 lashes
• Playing Cards at School = 10 lashes
• Misbehaving to Girls = 10 lashes

I had to chuckle at the fact that playing cards at school received the same number of lashings as misbehaving to girls.

The second floor also hosts a music room with a few instruments. The phonograph was neat to see, along with a photo of a pioneer choir.

Another room has furniture from the old governor’s office. One entire room is dedicated to John Huntsman, Jr. In fact, while the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City was being renovated in 2005, he delivered his State of the State address from the Territorial Statehouse.

If your kids are bored with the history, there’s a playroom on the second floor where kids can use blocks to make patchwork designs. Or they can make a strand of rope and play with little farm animal figurines.

The Assembly Hall on the Second Floor

The large hall on the second floor offers a view of the surrounding city. It’s also great for civic meetings, dances, receptions, parties, or large group meetings.

It’s in this room where the 1855 Utah Territorial Legislature met. It was the only time they would meet here, because the capitol returned to Salt Lake City the following year.

Junior Curator Program at Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum

The Utah State Parks Division did a good job of creating a Junior Curator Activity Book to help younger kids learn about the museum. The roughly 20-page booklet has word searches, matching, short answers, a BINGO board and hidden pictures.

While you tour the Statehouse, help your kids find the answers to the questions. When they complete the booklet, they can give it to a staff member and be certified as a Junior Curator. They’ll also get a cool patch to take home with them.

The Details

Address: 50 West Capitol Avenue, Fillmore, UT 84631

Cost: $2 for everyone 12 and older. $1 for ages 6-11 and Utah seniors. $6 for a family of up to eight. Admission is free if you bring your Utah State Parks Annual Pass.

Hours: Open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. You can tour the museum in about 30 minutes.

Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/territorial-statehouse/

Phone: (435) 743-5316

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