Sunday, November 24, 2019

Update: Which Temples, Tabernacles, and Meetinghouses are Safe?

Note: The 'Preservation Predictions' series examines what historic Mormon buildings may be renovated/preserved in the future. For all of the posts in this series, click here.

I originally wrote this post 5 years ago! In that post, I pointed out that in 2010, the Church had indicated that it had a list of 58 buildings that were designed as "safe"--buildings the Church would likely never sell or destroy.

Things change, and I'm not sure if the Church still has that list, or if it still has 58 buildings. Still, with recent preservation news from the past 5 years, and especially with recent concerning news about the likely future demolition of the Winder Ward in Millcreek, the ongoing fight to save the Murray First Ward,  and the upcoming sale of the University Ward Chapel, I wanted to revisit the Church's major buildings that are likely considered protected. I've marked buildings in green that I am fairly if not completely certain have a protected status. Other buildings in orange are good candidates.


Temples
  1. St. George Utah (on NRHP, 2019 renovation)
  2. Logan Utah (on NRHP, upcoming renovation)
  3. Manti Utah (on NRHP, upcoming renovation)
  4. Salt Lake Utah (on NRHP, 2019 renovation)
  5. Laie Hawaii (2010 renovation)
  6. Cardston Alberta (1991 renovation)
  7. Mesa Arizona (2018 renovation)
  8. Idaho Falls Idaho (2015 renovation) 
  9. Los Angeles
  10. Washington D.C.
  11. Vernal
  12. Provo City Center
The original article stated there were 10 protected temples.

Windows on the St. George Temple

Tabernacles

  1. Salt Lake (on National Register of Historic Places)
  2. Assembly Hall (on NRHP)
  3. Bountiful (on NRHP)
  4. St. George (on NRHP, renovated in 2018)
  5. Logan (on NRHP)
  6. Manti (renovated in 2015)
  7. Paris, ID (on NRHP)
  8. Brigham City (on NRHP)
  9. Granite Stake (article confirms this)
  10. Randolph (on NRHP)
  11. Garland (renovated in 2000)
  12. Alpine (renovated in recent years)
  13. Hollywood (Los Angeles, CA; renovated in 2003)
  14. Montpelier, ID (renovated in 2015)
  15. Kaysville
  16. Morgan
  17. Richfield
  18. Star Valley (Afton, WY)
  19. Loa (renovated in 1983)
  20. Honolulu, HI
  21. Ogden (renovated in 2014)
  22. Malad City, ID
The original article stated there were 20 protected tabernacles.

Interior of Kaysville Tabernacle

Meetinghouses

This one is particularly hard, because of the sheer number of historic meetinghouses. However, I can guess some of them. The original article said 23 meetinghouses were on this protected list.
  1. Spring City Ward
  2. Ogden 4th Ward (renovated 2012)
  3. Cedar City 1st Ward (renovated 2012)
  4. Logan 1st Ward
  5. Logan 4th Ward
  6. Farmington Ward (Primary Association organized there)
  7. Brigham City 3rd Ward
  8. Salt Lake Second Ward
  9. Salt Lake Eighth Ward
  10. Salt Lake Tenth Ward
  11. Salt Lake Liberty Ward
  12. Bonneville Ward (SLC)
  13. Garden Park Ward (SLC; renovated 2008)
  14. Manavu Ward (Provo)
  15. Wells Ward (SLC)
  16. Yale Ward (renovated 2011)
  17. Forest Dale Ward (SLC)
  18. El Paso Ward (TX, renovated 2015) 
  19. Centerville 1st Ward 
  20. Idaho Falls 5th Ward
  21. Blackfoot 1st Ward
  22. Whittier Ward
  23. Beaver Ward
  24. Tremonton 1st Ward
  25. Timpanogos Ward (Orem)
  26. Parowan 3rd Ward
  27. Salt Lake 27th Ward (renovated 2018)
  28. Salt Lake 20th Ward
Again, because of the number of unique meetinghouses, I'm sure there are many more that could be on this list.

Balcony of Spring City Ward

Other Buildings

The original article simply stated that five "other buildings are on the list."
  1. Colonia Juarez Stake Academy (Academia Juarez, a high school in Mexico)
  2. Maeser Building (BYU Campus; recently renovated)
  3. Heber J. Grant Building (BYU Campus)
  4. Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly the Hotel Utah)
  5. Church Administration Building
Academia Juarez, a historic Church high school in Colonia Juarez, Mexico

This one is difficult. I'm not sure if I've left out any other significant structures that don't fall under the category of meetinghouses, tabernacles, or temples.

It's unfortunate to see the recent development of threatened chapels. While the Winder and Murray Wards are not owned by the Church (and were sold many years ago), it's very unfortunate to see the University Ward be sold. Even though it will be preserved, it's one that I wish the Church would have kept.

What do you think? Have I left off any obvious or glaring candidates? Let me know!

2 comments:

  1. Hi my comment may not 100% have anything to do with the post but I live in Australia originally from New Zealand. Can you do a post on the David O McKay Stake and Cultural center in Temple Veiw, Hamilton, New Zealand. Which was dedicated by President Henry B Eyring in June 2017. I believe it will be a good fit for your blog as the church stopped building chapels in this grand scale in the 20th century. This building is more of a mega modern Tabernacle and I'm not aware of many locations outside the USA (especially in the 21st century) where Tabernacles of our faith are located. Thanks for your blog its very well done and a great read and look at too.

    Here's some links of the architecture of this building.

    https://nzia.co.nz/awards/local/award-detail/7649

    https://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/new-and-refurbished-buildings-area-dedicated-in-temple-view-new-zealand

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    Replies
    1. I've followed that project with some interest, William P. I am planning on doing a post highlighting some international Mormon architecture, so I'll add that to my list! :)

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