Church History Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Type | History and art museum |
The Church History Museum is a special place in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the main museum run by the Church History Department. This department is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The museum is right across from the west side of the church's Temple Square.
This museum has many interesting things to see. You can find art, old items, documents, and photos. There are also tools, clothes, and furniture. All these items tell the story of the almost 200-year history of the Church. Many volunteers from the local community help at the museum. They give tours and help with programs. The Church History Museum is open six days a week. It is free to visit.
Museum's Story
A very important person in starting the museum was Florence S. Jacobsen. She was a church expert in old items. She also used to lead the Young Women organization for the church. The museum officially opened its doors on April 4, 1984.
When it first opened, the museum had a lot of space. Early exhibits included the "Mormon Panorama." These were 22 historical paintings by C. C. A. Christensen. They showed the early days of the Church. Another exhibit featured "Paintings and Prints by Contemporary Latter-day Saint Artists." In 2012, The New York Times wrote about the museum. They said it showed how real and practical the religion was. They also noted how connected its history is to America's past.
In 2013, the museum had two exhibits. They celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. These exhibits showed 23 paintings by Norman Rockwell. The museum closed in October 2014 for a year. During this time, the first floor was updated and new exhibits were added. The new exhibits focused more on Jesus Christ and the Church's founder, Joseph Smith.
When the museum reopened in September 2015, there were many new things. Visitors could see a copy of the Newel K. Whitney Store. They could also see the seer stone Joseph Smith supposedly used to help create the Book of Mormon. A special theater was built with a 220-degree view. It takes visitors into a forest in upstate New York. This is where Smith said he saw God and Christ. The museum also has the printing press that made the first Book of Mormon in 1830. You can also see a chair that Brigham Young built. He was a carpenter before he joined the Church in 1832. In 2020, the museum closed for a time. This was due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Art Competition
In 1987, Richard Oman started the "International Art Competition." This competition happens every three to four years at the Church History Museum. Artists from all over the world can send in their artwork. The art must be about specific church and gospel themes.
The "11th International Art Competition" was held in 2019. It featured 151 artists from 26 countries. These artists were chosen from 947 submitted artworks. A special ceremony is held for each competition. It honors artists whose works are bought for the museum's collection. It also recognizes those who win awards.
Museum Store
The Museum Store opened at the same time as the museum. It helps support the many exhibits and programs. The store sells over 200 copies of art pieces. These come from the museum's and Church's large collections. You can find art by famous historical Latter-day Saint artists. These include C. C. A. Christensen, John Hafen, and Minerva Teichert. There are also works by modern artists like Walter Rane, Robert Barrett, and Arnold Friberg. The store also sells old-fashioned toys, books, statues, and pioneer-era clothing, like bonnets.
See also
- Mormon art
