LDS Tabernacles and Chapels

Growing up in the Seattle suburbs, the only church buildings I was accustomed to were the standard cookie-cutter designs built by the LDS church since the 1950's. When I moved to Utah, I noticed all kinds of old and unique buildings in the small towns throughout the region. I began researching some of these only to learn there were many old buildings scattered in the larger cities throughout Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties as well. I have yet to find any resource listing all the pre-1940 structures. My interest here is mostly the tabernacles and chapels but there are other old buildings including old bishops storehouses, relief society centers and assembly halls...the precursor for the "gyms" in our chapels.

It became even more apparent to me when only a few weeks after shooting pictures of the Provo Tabernacle, it burned to the ground. At that point, I had shot a few dozen buildings but the only one that was open for me to get access inside was the Provo Tabernacle. I feel very lucky to have taken the shots I did since I was probably the last person to photograph the inside.

Unfortunately, this project is slow to finish because I moved out of Utah. I visit once a year now and get one or two more each visit. At the bottom is a list of other buildings I am still planning on checking out. Maybe someone will someday make a nice coffee table book full of history and pictures. It is a big project but the book would be enjoyed.

Salt Lake County, Utah

Utah & Wasatch County

Morgan Stake Tabernacle (11 West Young Street, Morgan UT)
Laketown Ward Chapel (Rich County)
Uintah Stake Tabernacle (now the Vernal Temple)

Manti Tabernacle 1879 (Manti Ward Chapel)
Orderville Utah building
Rockville Utah building
Joseph Utah building 1929 (now the Old Church Vacation Renal)
Emery church building 1898
Spring City Ward Chapel, Sanpete Co.
Hanksville Meetinghouse on Sawmill Basin Road, Hanksville, Wayne Co.
Sevier Ward Church (on US89)
Mount Pleasant Utah chapel built in 1938
Beaver Utah building built in 1935
Blanding/Grason/San Juan Tabernacle/South Chapel
Parowan 3rd Ward Building
Teasdale Wayne County Building

Snowville Ward Meetinghouse (may be gone)
Smithfield Tabernacle
Smithfield Fourth Ward Meetinghouse
Old Hyrum Church south of Logan...not sure if LDS
Logan 9th Ward

Wells Ward Building 1920
Liberty Ward Building 1908
Sugarhouse Ward Building 1924
Salt Lake Tabernacle in Temple Square
Assembly Hall in Temple Square
Salt Lake City 20th Ward 1924
Salt Lake City 27th Ward Building (in the Avenues)
Belvedere Ward
Sandy 2nd Ward Building
Mill Creek Ward Chapel
Pioneer Rock Church - Herriman
Pleasant Green Ward Building - SLC

NYC Upper East Side Chapel on 87th between 2nd and 3rd Avenue
Inwood, NYC building
Midwood Chapel, 1218 Glenwood Road, New York

Eureka Building (sold to another church)
Grantsville First Ward (297 West Clark Street)
Milford Chapel

Star Valley Tabernacle in Aften Wyoming
Mormon Pioneer Rock Church in Auburn WY (built 1885 now a community center)

Chesterfield Chapel 1892
Rexburg
Oneida Stake Tabernacle
Minidoka Stake, Rupurt (1937)

Phoenix Second Ward Chapel

First Chapel in Hawaii (I think it still stands)

Gadfield Elm (first chapel in England)

Washington DC Chapel

Buildings Destroyed/Removed

Porterville Ward Meetinghouse

Sevier Stake Tabernacle

St. Anthony Tabernacle