Salt Lake City was grown out of the desert. Large streets and grand ambitions were plotted by pioneers who’d crossed America to get here. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll find out how a tight-knit religious community transformed an empty valley into a sophisticated city, and see the architecture, art, and folklore they left behind. The tour begins at the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian, the “Point Zero” of the city. You’ll head south along Main Street, past the cast-iron facade of ZCMI – America’s first department store – and beneath the City Creek Bridge, still debated by locals as either urban masterstroke or streetlife killer. I’ll point out Temple Plaza, where 91 international fl...
Highlights
From 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
From 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Meeting Points
Departure
Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian
This tour starts at Great Salt Lake Base & Meridian. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Return
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Tour ends at Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Important Information
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Wheelchair accessible
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Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
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Service animals allowed
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
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All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
•
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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Salt Lake City was grown out of the desert. Large streets and grand ambitions were plotted by pioneers who’d crossed America to get here. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll find out how a tight-knit religious community transformed an empty valley into a sophisticated city, and see the architecture, art, and folklore they left behind. The tour begins at the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian, the “Point Zero” of the city. You’ll head south along Main Street, past the cast-iron facade of ZCMI – America’s first department store – and beneath the City Creek Bridge, still debated by locals as either urban masterstroke or streetlife killer. I’ll point out Temple Plaza, where 91 international fl...
Highlights
From 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
From 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Meeting Points
Departure
Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian
This tour starts at Great Salt Lake Base & Meridian. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Return
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Tour ends at Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Itinerary
1
Salt Lake Temple
Marvel at this iconic granite spire rising dramatically above Temple Square, the spiritual and architectural centrepiece of Salt Lake City and one of the most recognisable religious buildings in the United States. Admire the reflection pond that mirrors the temple's towering facade and discover how the building's mirrors were sourced from the now-demolished Amussen Jewelry Building just blocks away.
2
Temple Square
Walk through this expansive ten-acre plaza, where 91 international flags line the paths and the grandeur of pioneer ambition is written into every carefully planned detail. Explore the grounds where the founders of Salt Lake City laid out their vision for a sophisticated religious city rising from an empty desert valley.
3
City Creek Center
Stroll through this striking modern shopping precinct, where a retractable roof, choreographed fountains, and a reintroduced trout stream sit alongside carefully reassembled storefronts rescued from the 1800s. Marvel at how this ambitious development has woven the city's pioneer heritage into a thoroughly contemporary urban space.
4
The Tabernacle
Admire this remarkable domed assembly hall, completed in 1867 and home to one of the most acoustically extraordinary interiors in America. Enjoy the serene atmosphere of a building where the Tabernacle Choir has been broadcasting its famous performances for over 5,000 episodes.
5
The Old Clock
Pass by this beloved downtown landmark, a cast-iron street clock that has marked the passing of time on Main Street for well over a century. Enjoy the charm of this enduring piece of street furniture, a quiet survivor of the dramatic transformations that have reshaped the blocks around it.
6
Abravanel Hall
Marvel at this elegant concert hall, home to the Utah Symphony and one of the finest performance venues in the American West. Step inside to admire Dale Chihuly's breathtaking 1,000-piece glass sculpture, sold to the city on the condition that it remain permanently and freely visible to all.
7
Church History Museum
Explore this fascinating museum tracing the history of the Latter-day Saint movement from its earliest days on the American frontier to its growth into a global religious community. Walk through exhibits that bring to life the stories of the pioneers who crossed a continent to build this city from nothing in the desert.
8
Eagle Gate Monument
Pass beneath this striking bronze eagle, originally erected in 1859 to mark the entrance to Brigham Young's private estate and now one of downtown Salt Lake City's most distinctive landmarks. Marvel at how this grand ceremonial gate has survived the city's relentless growth and still commands attention above one of its busiest intersections.
9
The Social Hall Historical Marker
Stop at this marker commemorating Salt Lake City's first Social Hall, built in 1852 as the pioneer community's first dedicated space for theatre, music, and public celebration. Discover how the arts flourished in this remote desert settlement far earlier than most visitors would ever expect.
10
Church Office Building
Admire this imposing granite office building, the administrative heart of one of the world's fastest-growing religious organisations. Pass by its grand facade and appreciate how this quietly authoritative building reflects the remarkable institutional ambition of the community that transformed an empty valley into a sophisticated city.