Salt Palace Resort photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P1674
Scope and Contents
The Salt Palace Resort photograph collection consists of one box containing one 4x6 cabinet card depicting bicyclists at the Salt Palace Saucer circa 1900-1910.
Dates
- circa 1900-1910
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical / Historical
The Salt Palace (1899-1916) was built in 1899 as an exhibition hall to highlight the unique aspects of Salt Lake City, Utah and the Great Salt Lake. It was located at 900 South between State and Main Streets in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was funded and run by a stock company which included W.A. Nelden, R.K. Thomas, and others. The property was owned by Frederick E. Health and J.R. Walker, and three years after the Salt Palace opened, Heath and Walker took over the company; later, Heath and his family became the sole owners and proprietors of the company (Salt Lake Tribune, 1910).
The Salt Palace structure was designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting in the Beaux Arts Classicism style. The wood used to construct the pavilion was alternately sprayed with powdered rock salt and soaked in brine to deposit salt crystals; the structure also incorporated blocks of rock salt slabs. In addition to the exhibition hall, the Salt Palace Resort grounds housed various amusement park rides, such as a miniature railroad, steam-powered merry-go-round, and circular swing. It also had attractions such as a Midway Plaisance, with streets modeled after Cairo and a Temple of Isis, a palm garden, a dancing hall, and a baseball diamond (Thatcher, 1989). A popular attraction was the Salt Palace Saucer, a track for bicycle racers that accommodated approximately 4,000 viewers. The track was designed and constructed in 1899 by T.O. Angell and was promoted as one of the first of its kind in the world (Salt Lake Tribune, 1910). The Salt Palace Saucer hosted both amateur and professional racers.
On August 29, 1910, a fire broke out, destroying the Salt Palace structure and damaging the bicycle track. In 1912, an open-air theater was built on the site of the Salt Palace. In 1913, the name was changed to Majestic Park and an open-air pavilion replaced the theater. In 1914, a fire destroyed the Salt Palace Saucer. In 1916, the pavilion collapsed during a snowstorm, leading to the closure of the Salt Palace Resort (Thatcher 1989). In 1969, a sport and event arena constructed at 100 South West Temple reused the name the Salt Palace (1969-1994), as did the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center on the same location (1996-present). As a result of the name's reuse, the Salt Palace resort at 900 South and Main is often called the First Salt Palace, the Original Salt Palace, or the Old Salt Palace.
Sources: Thatcher, L. (1989). The Old Salt Palace: The Temple of Amusement. Beehive History, 15, 12-15.
Salt Lake Tribune. (1910). Fierce flames attack Salt Palace Property. Utah Digital Newspapers.
The Salt Palace structure was designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting in the Beaux Arts Classicism style. The wood used to construct the pavilion was alternately sprayed with powdered rock salt and soaked in brine to deposit salt crystals; the structure also incorporated blocks of rock salt slabs. In addition to the exhibition hall, the Salt Palace Resort grounds housed various amusement park rides, such as a miniature railroad, steam-powered merry-go-round, and circular swing. It also had attractions such as a Midway Plaisance, with streets modeled after Cairo and a Temple of Isis, a palm garden, a dancing hall, and a baseball diamond (Thatcher, 1989). A popular attraction was the Salt Palace Saucer, a track for bicycle racers that accommodated approximately 4,000 viewers. The track was designed and constructed in 1899 by T.O. Angell and was promoted as one of the first of its kind in the world (Salt Lake Tribune, 1910). The Salt Palace Saucer hosted both amateur and professional racers.
On August 29, 1910, a fire broke out, destroying the Salt Palace structure and damaging the bicycle track. In 1912, an open-air theater was built on the site of the Salt Palace. In 1913, the name was changed to Majestic Park and an open-air pavilion replaced the theater. In 1914, a fire destroyed the Salt Palace Saucer. In 1916, the pavilion collapsed during a snowstorm, leading to the closure of the Salt Palace Resort (Thatcher 1989). In 1969, a sport and event arena constructed at 100 South West Temple reused the name the Salt Palace (1969-1994), as did the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center on the same location (1996-present). As a result of the name's reuse, the Salt Palace resort at 900 South and Main is often called the First Salt Palace, the Original Salt Palace, or the Old Salt Palace.
Sources: Thatcher, L. (1989). The Old Salt Palace: The Temple of Amusement. Beehive History, 15, 12-15.
Salt Lake Tribune. (1910). Fierce flames attack Salt Palace Property. Utah Digital Newspapers.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 archives box) : 1 item
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Salt Palace Resort was an exhibition hall and amusement destination located at 900 South between State and Main Streets in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was built in 1899 and closed in 1916 after a series of fires, including the 1910 fire that destroyed the Salt Palace exhibition hall. This collection contains one black-and-white cabinet card photograph depicting bicyclists ready to race on the Salt Palace Saucer bicycle track.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Ken Sanders in 2011.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
- Title
- Salt Palace Resort photograph collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid written by Special Collections staff.
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- The finding aid was written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu