ZCMI Cast Iron Front facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Z.C.M.I. Cast Iron Front
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The facade in December 2006 (prior to its incorporation into the City Creek Center)
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 South Main Street Salt Lake City, Utah United States |
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| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Folsom, William H., et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000632 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1970 |
The ZCMI Cast Iron Front is a very old and special building front, called a facade. It is currently part of the City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. This facade is made from cast iron and stamped steel. It was built between 1876 and 1901.
This building front is a great example of how metal was used in old buildings. It also reminds us of how Salt Lake City looked and traded goods in the 1800s. Because it is so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Contents
What is the ZCMI Cast Iron Front?
The ZCMI Cast Iron Front is a famous part of the City Creek Center. This center is a big area in downtown Salt Lake City with shops and homes. You can find the ZCMI front on the east side of South Main Street. It is just south of South Temple Street.
How Does the Facade Look?
Today, this old front is the face of the Macy's store there. The facade is about 50 feet (15 meters) wide. It stands three stories tall. It is split into three main parts. Square columns stand between these parts and at the very ends.
Each of the three parts has seven smaller sections, called bays. These bays are separated by columns with special tops. These tops are called Corinthian capitals. They have fancy designs.
Special Details of the Facade
Above the first two floors, there are decorative ledges called modillioned cornices. These separate the floors. A deeper ledge sticks out at the very top, where the roof begins. The top ledge on the outer parts has even more small details. These are called dentil work, which look like small teeth. There are also brackets above each column.
The middle section's top ledge has a triangle-shaped top, called a pedimented gable. Below this, there is a flat panel called a frieze. This panel has vine designs around two round sections. These sections show the dates 1868 and 1999. In the very center, you can see the name ZCMI.
History of the ZCMI Store and Facade
The ZCMI department store started in 1868. Many people say it was the very first department store in the United States. Its main store was built in 1876. A local architect named William Folsom designed it.
How the Facade Grew Over Time
When it was first built, the store only had the middle part of this special facade. This first part was made from cast iron. The store grew bigger two times. The first time was in 1880, and the facade was extended with more cast iron. The second time was in 1901. For this expansion, stamped sheet metal was used.
Later, the store building behind the facade was torn down. This was to make room for the new City Creek Center. But the beautiful ZCMI Cast Iron Front was saved. It was kept and made part of the new development.
