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Exploring Utah
Fathers Silvestre Velez de Escalante and Francisco Atanasio Dominguez seek a new route from New Mexico to California and explore Utah. -
Discovering the Great Salt Lake
General William H. Ashley sends trappers to northern Utah and Jim Bridger discovers the Great Salt Lake. -
Pioneers arrive in Utah
On July 24 the first party of Mormon pioneers arrive in the Salt Lake Valley to establish a new home free of religious persecution. (LDS leaders desired to claim an actual territory. Doing so would serve to isolate them from the rest of the U.S.) -
The organization of Utah territory
On September 9 the U.S. Senate passes a bill providing for the organization of Utah Territory (rejecting the name Deseret and shrinking its borders). -
The Utah War
Brigham Young is removed as governor by President James Buchanan who sends a 2,500-man military force to accompany the new governor Alfred Cumming to the territory, starting the Utah War. -
The third movement for Statehood
Third movement for Statehood begins in December 1861. -
Discovery of silver and lead
Discovery of silver and lead in Bingham Canyon. -
First Catholic Church in Utah
Dedication of First Catholic Church in Utah (St. Mary Madeleine). -
Utah becomes a state
•Utah becomes the 45th state on January 4
•Wells is inaugurated as the first governor. -
Utah State Capital is complete
State Capitol is completed. -
Zion National Park is created
•Zion National Park is created. -
Canyonlands National Park is opened.
Canyonlands National Park is opened. -
First Senator to fly in space
Jake Garn, is first US Senator to fly in space -
Tornados in Salt Lake City
On August 11 a tornado ripped through downtown Salt Lake City doing over $100 million of dollars in damage. -
Salt Lake City host the 19th Olympic Winter Games
Salt Lake City will host the XIX Olympic Winter Games. Along with more than 2,000 athletes from 85 nations, the world will share in the drama and excitement of 75 medal events in 10 different sports.
