Information
Landmark: Beehive HouseCity: Salt Lake City
Country: USA Utah
Continent: North America
Beehive House, Salt Lake City, USA Utah, North America
Overview
In downtown Salt Lake City, the Beehive House stands as a historic home once belonging to Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a central figure in settling the Salt Lake Valley, its old wooden porch still catching the afternoon sun.The house, built in the mid-1800s, is a striking piece of Utah pioneer architecture, its weathered wood and stone tied closely to the city’s earliest days.Built in 1854, the Beehive House served as a family home and a lively hub for social and political meetings, its front parlor often filled with the hum of conversation.The name comes from the beehive, a symbol of hard work and unity long tied to Utah and the Latter-day Saint movement, much like the hum of bees in a busy hive.Brigham Young lived in the house while leading both the church and the territory, welcoming dignitaries, congregation members, and local leaders through its tall wooden doors.The Beehive House blends mid-19th-century pioneer style with touches of Victorian flair, rising in multiple stories around a tall central tower, its wooden trim etched with delicate beehive designs.Broad porches catch the afternoon light, and balanced facades show the Victorian love of form and proportion, all while meeting the everyday needs of the time.Inside, the rooms evoke mid-19th‑century life, filled with carved wooden chairs, worn textiles, and everyday household pieces from the era.There are cozy parlors for greeting guests, quiet family rooms tucked away for privacy, and bright corners set aside for administrative work and community gatherings.Carved wood trim, sturdy mantels, and warm glow from period lamps bring the room to life with the feel of a true pioneer-era home.Formal gardens and landscaped grounds wrap around the house, with shaded paths under leafy branches, bursts of bright flowers, and a sweeping view of the Salt Lake Valley.People once gathered in these outdoor spaces to talk, unwind in the shade, and watch gardeners show how to coax blooms from the soil.At the Beehive House, visitors step into Brigham Young’s world and the wider pioneer era, with docent-led tours that reveal the home’s ornate woodwork, the rhythms of the Young family’s daily life, and its place in Utah’s early social and political story.In some rooms, you’ll find hands-on displays, old photographs, and worn artifacts that bring to life the grit of pioneer days, the workings of local governance, and the rhythms of family life in the 1800s.Seasonal and special programs bring the house to life with events and hands-on workshops celebrating Utah’s history, pioneer heritage, and the rich cultural traditions of its early settlers-like the scent of fresh bread baking in a wood-fired oven.The Beehive House feels steeped in history, its worn wooden floors and bright windows mixing the comfort of home with the weight of civic duty.Visitors often pause to admire the carved oak panels, the well-kept furniture, and the small touches that bring the pioneer era to life.From its perch above the city, the house looks out over downtown Salt Lake and the wide valley beyond, tying the old home to the sweeping landscape Brigham Young once helped settle.Shutting the doors of The Beehive House cuts off a living connection to Salt Lake City’s pioneer days, when Brigham Young walked its creaking wooden floors.With its graceful architecture, carefully kept rooms, and rich educational programs, the site stands as a vital piece of Utah’s history, giving visitors an intimate look at the life, work, and legacy of one of the state’s most influential figures-right down to the worn leather chair he once used.
