St. George Tabernacle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. George Tabernacle
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | Junction of Tabernacle and Main Sts., St. George, Utah |
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| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Miles Romney |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000862 |
| Added to NRHP | May 14, 1971 |
The St. George Tabernacle is a very old and important building located in St. George, Utah. It sits right on the Town Square. This special building first opened its doors in 1876. Back then, it was used for many things, like church meetings and even court cases. Today, the Tabernacle is still open for everyone to visit. It's a popular spot for concerts and other public events.
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History of the St. George Tabernacle
The town of St. George in Utah Territory was a very important place. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanted it to be a town where people could grow cotton. This would help the church members be self-sufficient, meaning they could provide for themselves.
However, the weather in this area, sometimes called Utah's Dixie, was very dry. This made it hard to grow crops, and people faced tough economic times. To help the farmers, Brigham Young, who was the President of the church, decided to build public buildings in the area.
Building the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle was planned to be both a church and a courthouse. Money for the building came from donations, called tithes, from people in Beaver and other towns to the south.
Construction started on June 1, 1863. It took many years to build. The Tabernacle finally opened on May 14, 1876. A special ceremony was held, and Brigham Young, Jr. was there.
Design and Features of the Building
Miles Romney, a member of the famous Romney family, designed the Tabernacle. The main clock and bell tower stands about 140 feet (43 meters) tall. The walls in the basement are 3 feet (0.9 meters) thick. The walls above ground are 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) thick.
The building was made from red sandstone bricks. These bricks were chosen to match the beautiful red cliffs around St. George. Inside, the ceilings are very high, reaching 29 feet (8.8 meters). They have fancy plaster decorations and are supported by twenty columns.
There is also a balcony, called a gallery, that is ten feet (3 meters) off the ground. It runs along the north, south, and east walls. Two round staircases lead up to it on the east side. An organ was added to the Tabernacle in 1878.
Almost all the building materials came from the local area. Only the windows had to be shipped from Wilmington, California. When it was finished, the Tabernacle could seat 1,200 people. The clock tower was very useful because people in the city used it to tell the time.
The Tabernacle Today
The St. George Tabernacle is still standing strong today. It even earned the nickname "jewel of the desert." In 1993, the building was carefully restored to look more like it did when it was first built.
The Tabernacle is open to the public. It still hosts church services and many local events, like public concerts. It's a wonderful place to visit and learn about the history of St. George.
