“Lion House”

“National Register ~ Utah Historic Site ~ Lion House – Constructed in 1855-1856 as a residence for Brigham Young and his family, The Lion House takes its name from the recumbent lion set on top of the front portico. The House was designed by Truman O. Angell and built of stuccoed adobe. Brigham Young, second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first territorial governor of Utah, died in this house on August 29, 1877. Since its construction, the Lion House has functioned as a community social center.”

“The Lion House (1854-1856, Truman O. Angell) ~ The Lion House takes its name from the carved lion on top of the front portico. The house was constructed with adobe blocks, a common building material during Utah’s settlement period. Brigham Young, second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, built the Lion House for his wives and children. He and some early Church members practiced the Old Testament principle of polygamy which was officially ended in 1890. The basement contained a dining room which could accommodate 70 people. On the main floor were sitting rooms and bedrooms for wives with children. The second floor had bedrooms for children & childless wives – one under each of the 20 steeply-pitched gables.”

“The Beehive House (1853-1855, Truman O. Angell) ~ The Beehive House served as Brigham Young’s residence, office, and reception area for official visitors. At the time the house was built, Young was both president of the LDS Church and Utah’s territorial governor. The Beehive House was designed by Young’s brother-in-law, Truman O. Angell. Angell was also the architect for the Lion House and the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Built of stuccoed adobe, the Beehive House features a two-story veranda, an observatory, and a cupola topped with a beehive. Young’s son added a three-story wing to the north when he remodeled the house in 1888. In the early 1960s, the LDS Church restored the Beehive House to resemble its 1888 appearance.”

“No 52 – June 9, 1935 – Brigham Young’s Office ~ Erected about 1852. Used as the executive offices of the territory of Utah until 1855. Headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the time it was finished until 1917 when the new Church Office Building was completed. For a short time it was also the Church Tithing Office. Many distinguished persons have been entertained here. Presidents of the church who occupied these offices were: Brigham Young, 1852-1877; John Taylor, 1877-1887; Wilford Woodruff, 1887-1898; Lorenzo Snow, 1898-1901; Joseph F. Smith, 1901-1917. – Young Men’s and Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Associations and Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association.”

“This bust of Brigham Young depicts him sometime shortly after 1850 when he began to grow a beard, a fashion of the times. It was sculpted by noted Latter Day Saint artist Avard Fairbanks. It is on loan from Ken Knight a descendant of Brigham Young.”