Competing Utopias: Religion & Economics

Join us in examining how religious and economic ideals were built into and have survived through Salt Lake City's historic architecture, this tour invites reflection on how we safeguard stories of vision, conflict, and adaptation.

Led by LDS historian Kristine Haglund, the tour begins at Temple Square, an enduring symbol of communal values and pioneer leadership. From there, we explore preserved landmarks along South Temple and Main Street—structures that once housed cooperative mercantile dreams, competing faith traditions, and rising commercial empires. Along the way, we’ll highlight the significance of ZCMI (Zion’s Co-operative Mercantile Institution), one of the earliest department stores in the American West and a touchstone in the dialogue between preservation and progress.

You may also like the following events from Preservation Utah:

• Next Friday, 22nd August, 09:30 am, Salt Lake City and County Building Tour in Salt Lake City
• Next Saturday, 23rd August, 11:00 am, Meditation Chapel Tour in Salt Lake City
• This October, 18th October, 10:00 am, Fairpark Homes Tour in Salt Lake City