The Eagle Gate monument is a historical monument—more in the form of an arch than a gate—seventy-six feet across, situated at the intersection of State Street at South Temple, adjacent to
Temple Square
Temple Square is a complex, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately ...
, in
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
.
History
The monument was erected in 1859 and commemorates the entrance to
Brigham Young
Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his death in 1877. During his time as ch ...
's property at the mouth of
City Creek Canyon. It was originally topped by a wooden eagle, refurbished several times and eventually replaced by the current 4,000-pound,
bronze eagle, with a wingspan of . Carved by Ralph Ramsay, the original wooden eagle is on display at the
Daughters of Utah Pioneers
The International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers (ISDUP, DUP) is a women's organization dedicated to preserving the history of the original settlers of the geographic area covered by the State of Deseret and Utah Territory, including Mormon pi ...
Museum located at 300 North Main Street.
The first Eagle Gate was remodeled and enlarged with new stone piers and wider inverted arches in the early 1890s (with Ralph Ramsay's eagle rebuilt and fortified); designed by
Don Carlos Young, an architect son of Brigham Young. Due to the widening of State Street in the early 1960s, the prior monument including Ramsay's eagle was removed and replaced with a much wider and larger third generation Eagle Gate, designed by Salt Lake City architect George Cannon Young. Young was the son of Don Carlos Young and the grandson of Brigham Young. The monument is one of Salt Lake City's best known pioneer landmarks, and its current design is one of Salt Lake City's best standing examples of
Mid-Century Modern design.
[Deseret News, Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, "Eagle Gate spans the history of Salt Lake."]
References
External links
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1859 sculptures
Buildings and structures completed in 1859
Monuments and memorials in Utah
Outdoor sculptures in Salt Lake City
Sculptures of birds in the United States
Temple Square
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