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The early Mormon pioneers certainly left their architectural imprint on the southern Utah region. In fact, from their beautiful white temples and tabernacles to their modest one-room schoolhouses, it is not difficult to feel the influence of these early settlers. Mother Nature, however, has been providing some construction tools as well - houses carved from the rock, churches made out of rock, and amphitheaters created from the rock mean that visitors are bound to observe the spectacular fusion of man-made and nature-influenced architecture.
Mormon Architecture in Southern Utah
The St. George Temple is a stunning and classic example Mormon-style architecture in the region. Dedicated in 1871, the temple was originally designed after the Kirtland in Ohio and the Nauvoo Mormon Temples in Illinois. It follows the castellated Gothic style, made of local red sandstone that was quarried north of the city and plastered white. With a total floor space of 111,000 square feet, the temple has three ordinance rooms, 18 sealing rooms, and two large assembly halls with pulpits at each end. It has been restored and renovated over the years, and the original tower was replaced with a taller, more majestic version after damage from a lightning storm.
Another stunning example of Mormon architecture is the beautiful St. George Tabernacle, often called the "jewel in the desert." The restored church building is reminiscent of a typical New England-style chapel. It seats up to 1,200 people and is open daily for church services, music recitals, and other events. The clock below the tabernacle spire was brought from England and was built by Thwaites and Reed, the oldest clockmakers in the world (they are also the company responsible for Big Ben's maintenance). The limestone for the basement walls and sandstone that make up the walls were hand-quarried in the area, and the twin spiral staircases were hand-carved.
The early Mormon pioneer lifestyle is excellently embodied in the many Mormon architectural structures scattered throughout the region, like the homes, schoolhouses, and chapels visitors will stumble upon in major settlements and even in National Parks. Fruita, the deserted pioneer settlement in Capital Reef National Park, contains delightful historic buildings and a one-room schoolhouse that accommodated Mormon settlers in the 1800s. Spring City is also known for its architectural gems, following a similar style of architecture, known as "Little Denmark" because of the Scandinavian influence. For even more examples, check out the Jacob Hamblin Home in St. George or the Kanab Heritage House, a restored Queen Anne Victorian-style house built in 1895.
The Green Gate Village Historic Inn features a unique collection of eight pioneer and early Victorian St. George homes, clustered around a modernized village green and swimming pool in St. George. Several of the homes at this site were built by original settlers Orson Pratt (1862) and William Bentler (1876). Others were amazingly transferred to the location from nearby areas, moved brick-by-brick over a 20-year period. In addition, the original carriage house, granary, and general store are all fully restored and used as an historic inn and restaurant.
Other Architectural Attractions in Southern Utah
Other interesting architecture in southern Utah highlights the landscape through its design and construction. Hole 'n The Rock (not to be confused with the historic "Hole-in-the-rock road") is a unique 14-room home carved out of a huge sandstone monolith (read: big rock) south of Moab. Albert Christensen started building this historic, 5,000-sqaure-foot "dream home" in the 1950s. The 65-foot chimney drilled through the rock ceiling, taxidermy exhibits, and lapidary (stone-work) room are just some of the highlights. The home is open daily for tours, located 15 miles south of Moab on U.S. Highway 191.
The Rock Church in Cedar City combines both of the region's architectural charms - its Mormon influence and its nature-oriented tendencies. Depression-era residents needed a new Mormon church building but lacked the adequate resources to build one, so they set to work using local materials, constructing the church out of different types of rocks. Metal lamps, carpets, western red cedar pews, and other furnishings were made by skilled local craftsmen, and today it is a beautiful structure open for tours.
Other impressive architectural wonders include the several amphitheaters carved out of the rock or surrounded by red rock cliffs, nature-based but man-adjusted. Most are natural amphitheaters created from years of corrosion. The Tuacahn Amphitheatre outside of St. George in Ivins, Utah, is a spectacular 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheater surrounded by 1,500-foot-high red rock cliffs. Tunnels through solid rock like the Bryce Canyon Tunnel and tunnel along Zion Park Scenic Byway likely awaken the inner-architectural wonder in us all. The new Dewey Bridge is located along scenic byway 128 near Moab, right next the old Dewey Bridge - a one-lane suspension bridge built in 1916 and used until 1986. It is currently on the National Registrar of Historic Places and is open to foot traffic and bicycles.
Other historic architecture can be found in the National Parks, as the designs of Bryce Canyon Lodge (also a National Historic Landmark) and Zion Lodge highlight the rustic charm of the region.
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