Salt Lake City and County Building Tour

Preservation Utah is running guided tours of the Salt Lake City and County Building, starting Friday, October 23, and continuing through the fall. It's one of the city's most beloved landmarks, and for good reason: it's Utah's finest example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, completed in 1894. If you've walked past it a thousand times but never actually stepped inside, this is a good chance to see what's behind those walls.

The tour takes about an hour and works its way from the bottom up. It starts with the base isolators beneath the building—the heavy-duty engineering that keeps the structure stable—and ends up in the clock tower. Along the way, you'll get a look at the building's interior and a bit of the history that makes it a local landmark. The whole thing is led by professional volunteer guides from Preservation Utah, so you'll have someone to answer questions as you go.

If you're looking for more than just this one tour, Preservation Utah does a fair amount of work around the city. They have a tours app with downloadable walking and driving guides, and they offer private tours of other iconic landmarks and seasonal events throughout the year. This one is just one part of what they've got going on.

Public tours are free, and they run on Friday, October 23, and then on November 6, 13, 20, and December 4. If you're bringing a group and want something separate, private tours are $15 per person. The tours are held at the Salt Lake City and County Building in Salt Lake City.