Logan Tabernacle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Logan Tabernacle
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The Logan Tabernacle in 2006
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bounded by Center, 1st North, Main, and 1st East Sts., Logan, Utah |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Charles Ora Card and Anthon Skanchy |
| Architectural style | Combination of Gothic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and perhaps classical and revival. |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001800 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1975 |
The Logan Tabernacle is a special building used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Logan, Utah, in Cache County, Utah. People use it often for church meetings, like big conferences and graduations. It also hosts music concerts and interesting talks.
You can visit the tabernacle and take tours every summer. Tours are available from June to September. Many local events happen here too. For example, the yearly Summerfest Arts Faire takes place on the tabernacle grounds each June.
Building the Logan Tabernacle
Building the tabernacle started in 1864. It took 27 years to finish this large building. Work stopped twice during this time. In 1873, construction began again. The building was made bigger, from 60 by 106 feet to 65 by 130 feet.
The second delay happened in 1877. Workers had finished the outside walls. They then moved to help complete the nearby Logan Temple. Work on the tabernacle soon started again. The main meeting hall was finished in 1881. The entire building was dedicated in 1891 by Wilford Woodruff, who was the president of the Church.
The building's style mixes different old designs. It has parts of Greek, Roman, Gothic, and Byzantine styles. The entire building was made using materials found nearby. The outside walls are made of local quartzite rock. This rock came from Green Canyon, about eight miles away. White limestone was used for the corners and decorations. This limestone came from near Franklin, Idaho, about 20 miles north.
Changes Over Time
The Logan Tabernacle has been changed several times since it was built. Not long after it was finished, some big changes were made. At first, there were three stairways on the outside. These led up to the main floor. They were removed in the late 1880s. New stairways were built inside a new entrance area.
The beautiful stained glass windows on the west side were put in before 1910. In the early 1950s, the building was updated a lot. The old wooden benches were replaced. The pine floor was covered with asphalt tiles. The inside of the main hall was completely redecorated. The walls were painted a light green color. The original painted ceiling was covered with sound-absorbing tiles. The organ's wooden case was painted a light "blond" color. All other furniture was changed to fit the style of that time.
A big project started in 1985 to restore the building. This four-year project finished in 1989. It aimed to undo many of the 1950s changes. The goal was to bring back the original pioneer design. The inside paint colors were changed. They now match what was found under many layers of old paint. The sound-absorbing tiles were taken off the ceiling. The simple, elegant designs on the ceiling were restored. The original ceiling designs were painted on a special cloth. This cloth was then attached to the plaster ceiling. For the restoration, the designs were painted directly onto the ceiling.
The wooden pillars that hold up the balcony were painted by a Utah artist. They were made to look like marble. This painting style was known by pioneer artists in Utah. You can see similar work in other old tabernacles.
The Great Organ
The large organ in the Logan Tabernacle is very special. It was built by Henry Pilcher's Sons in Kentucky. It arrived in Logan in 1908. The organ was finished and dedicated on August 1 of that year. James Day from the Pilcher company installed the organ. Local newspapers reported that people often stopped by to watch the work.
The organ first used a "tubular-pneumatic" system. This meant small lead tubes connected each key to the pipes. In 1952-53, the organ was rebuilt. The key and stop system was changed to an "electro-pneumatic" system. This uses electricity. A new console, which is like the organ's control panel, was also installed. Some of the original pipes were replaced or changed.
In 1987 and 2009, the organ was updated again. Its control system was replaced. A new console was put in. Some digital sounds were added. Today, the organ has 45 sets of pipes. It has about 2,850 individual pipes. These are controlled by a console with three keyboards and foot pedals.
There are 194 gold-colored pipes visible at the front. Of these, 38 actually make sound. They are on the southeast side and have red designs. The smallest pipe is only 3/4 of an inch long. The largest pipe is almost 16 feet tall! A powerful 7-horsepower blower in the basement creates the wind for the organ.
