This year our tour will be held in the Federal Heights neighborhood. From humble beginnings as the site of brickyards and slaughterhouses, Federal Heights developed in the 20th century into one of Salt Lake’s most prestigious neighborhoods. Its complex and sometimes surprising history is reflected in the diversity and quality of its architecture.
Please pick up your ticket(s) at the tour headquarters on May 20 between 10 am and 3 pm. We have permission to use the parking lot on the corner of Campus Dr. and Federal Way - circled in red in the photo. The parking lot can only be accessed from the east, Campus Dr. and Federal Way. You can not access the parking lot from Walcott St. You may also park on the surrounding neighborhood streets. Please follow all street parking signs and laws.
Traditional tour tickets will provide access to 5-7 private homes
$30 in advance & $40 day-of (non members)
$25 member price (always) - Use discount code emailed to you or call 801.533.0858 or email . Please make sure you pay the correct price or consider it a donation to a good cause.
All sales are final, no refunds.
NEW THIS YEAR: Homes Tour Donor Ticket - $100
May is Preservation Month! Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations caring for their communities across the country celebrate Preservation Month. This is done through public events that promote historic places, architectural landmarks, heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.
This year, Preservation Utah is offering a limited number of special “Homes Tour Donor” tickets for the historic homes tour. Homes Tour Donors will receive exclusive guided small-group tours of two (2) additional private homes that are particularly representative of Federal Heights' distinctive architecture; a Heritage Business swag bag; your name or business listed in this year’s Homes Tour program; and a ticket to the 5-7 homes on the main Homes Tour. These additional homes are featured for the first time on our tour and are open only to Homes Tour Donors. Join us for this exclusive opportunity.
Help us reach our Preservation Month fundraising goals – become a Homes Tour Donor!
These tickets are limited to 250 people.
Tickets must be purchased via the link above by May 15 at 9 am to be printed in the program.
Please be aware that many of the homes have a lot of stairs.
Tour Information:
All persons who walk must have a ticket - in the form of our tour brochure and wristband, with which you may enter each home on the tour. We do not mail the brochures or wristbands prior to the event.
Tour brochure(s) / wristband(s) will be available for pick up at our tour headquarters between 10 am and 3 pm on May 20 only.
The tour is an all-weather, rain-or-shine event and there are no refunds for unused tickets.
The tour will take about 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. There will be five to seven private homes open to tour. From the headquarters to all the homes and back is about 1.5 miles round trip. There will be docents in all the homes providing historic information about the homes.
We do our best to limit crowds inside the homes, therefor, there may be lines to enter homes. Please be patient as our guides (all volunteers) do their best to lead guests through the homes.
Attendees will be provided shoe covers to be worn inside all homes.
No food or drink, or large bags or backpacks are allowed in the homes.
Masks are encouraged and may be required inside the homes. We will assess closer to the tour date.
None of the homes are wheelchair accessible, and all have stairs. Attendees should watch their step around and in all parts of homes.
Pets are not allowed inside homes.
All homes are private residences and are only available to tour during the time and day of our tour. We will not reveal the names of the homeowners, nor will we reveal the addresses of homes prior to the tour.
Photography is permitted outside the homes only and is prohibited inside.
Attendees are not required to visit all the homes, and may go to each home at their leisure during open hours.
If you have questions, please contact Liz Joerger at .
Preservation Utah's Historic Homes Tour is typically our largest annual event. Between 400 and 1,200 people attend, requiring about 125 volunteers to guide people through the 5-7 beautiful historic homes we feature on the tour. We welcome people of varying backgrounds, ages, and skills to volunteer for this tour. All volunteers receive one complimentary admission to the tour. While we are happy to have volunteers before the event, we are now specifically looking for two types of volunteers, with two types of commitment:
House Manager
About 14 individuals needed
Responsibilities
Manage assigned house for 3.5 hours on the day of the tour (day-of role only, no pre-planning)
Shift from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm or 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
In advance of the tour, memorize provided script as a safety measure
Communicate with the homeowners
Ensure that the home is respectable for the tour
Ensure the property is respected and returned to the owner in the condition it was entrusted to us
Ensure that tour rules are respected by tour patrons
On tour day set up or break down the house tour supplies
Check-in and oversee volunteer docents
Troubleshoot any issues, call Preservation Utah staff if needed
Tour Docent
About 75 individuals needed
Responsibilities
Two-hour shift (day-of role only)
In advance of the tour, memorize provided script
Bring the script with you to the tour as a reference
Narrate the script / lead tours of the home you are assigned to while walking patrons through the home via the route instructed by the House Manager
Keep your group together
Ensure the property is respected and returned to the owner in the condition it was entrusted to us
Ensure tour rules are followed (if you have any issues, reach out to the House Manager)
House Historian
2-3 individuals needed
Time commitment is roughly 4 hours per home (may sign up for more than one home if desired)
House script writer
Work directly with the home owners to gather oral histories of the homes and to inventory the work done on the property
Work with the House Researcher and the Tour Architect to write a script for the home which the docents will use to educate the public on the history of the home
Will need to meet and tour the homes with other volunteer staff and the homeowners
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Photographer - exterior photos only on the day of the tour
Setting up signage and the tour headquarters in the morning;
Selling tickets at tour headquarters through the day;
Closing homes, cleaning up signage and the tour headquarters at the end of the day;
Various other activities as weather, traffic and other needs arise.
