Take a Tour
Take a Tour
Preservation Utah provides numerous ways to explore and connect with Utah's history. Through the Preservation Utah Tours App, downloadable walking and driving tour guides, private tours of iconic landmarks, guided tours led by professional volunteer tour guides, and seasonal events, we make history accessible to everyone.
Preservation Utah Tours App
Discover Utah's history and culture with Preservation Utah’s tour app. Designed for self-guided experiences, our app offers an engaging way to explore historic sites, modern architecture, and charming heritage neighborhoods throughout the state. With user-friendly features and interactive maps, the app allows you to navigate at your own pace, choosing from various themed tours.
Download the Preservation Utah Tour App today and start your adventure into the past!
If you are not an app person, you can access all of our self-guided tours from our app here on the web.
Visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your mobile device and search for 'Preservation Utah Tours' to download our app. We are making updates and adding new tours all the time, so be sure to update the app regularly.
Historic Buildings on Capitol Hill📄
Where can you explore historic buildings ranging from vernacular adobe houses to the monumental Utah State Capitol Building? Salt Lake City's Capitol Hill neighborhood is rich in Utah's history and has diverse architecture. This guide describes twenty-four buildings on Capitol Hill, including the popular Marmalade Historic District. It also includes a map and numerous sketches.
Historic Downtown Salt Lake City📄
Did Salt Lake City have a Chinatown? Where can you find Art Deco-style buildings downtown? What is the oldest commercial building in the city? Find the answers to these questions and more in Preservation Utah's Historic Downtown Salt Lake City Walking Tour Guide. This forty-four-page guide with a map contains five one-hour walking tours, including a special tour of Main Street for kids ages nine - twelve. Read the story of Salt Lake City's settlement and downtown historic building growth.
Historic South Temple Street📄
Since the city was first settled, South Temple has been Salt Lake City's most prestigious address. Today, walking along South Temple, you will see stately mansions, magnificent churches, and impressive clubhouses. Preservation Utah's Historic South Temple Street Walking Tour Guide describes 39 historic buildings from State Street to Virginia Street, provides a map, and includes numerous contemporary and historical photos. The tour takes approximately two hours to complete on foot. The guide also includes Time Travel on South Temple📄, a tour for kids ages nine to twelve.
Modernism at the University of Utah📄
This walking tour, created in March 2015, explores the University of Utah's historic, modern architecture. Its introduction, "A New Era for University Architecture," describes fourteen buildings on the campus. The guide also includes a map and numerous sketches and photographs.
Modernism on South Temple Street📄
Explore Salt Lake City's South Temple Street architectural legacy with Modernism on South Temple Street. This guide highlights the stunning examples of mid-century modern architecture along one of the city’s most historic streets. Featuring a collection of iconic buildings from the modernist era, the guide offers insight into these structures' unique design and cultural impact, showcasing Salt Lake City's evolution through its architectural history. Perfect for architecture enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this tour reveals the beauty and significance of South Temple’s modernist gems.
Symbol of the City: The Salt Lake City & County Building📄
Take a tour of the exterior of the City & County Building and learn about the symbolism of the intricate carvings. Understanding the history of the City & County Building will deepen your appreciation for the history of Salt Lake City, Utah, and its people.
Through the Eyes of Many Faiths📄
Learn about various religions through the architecture of their holy spaces. This book discusses sixteen different religions, their histories, and their churches. It is also packed with Utah history.
Travel Guide to Utah History
In 1972, Preservation Utah produced and published a travel booklet entitled "A Guide To 11 Tours of Utah Historic Sites." This booklet outlines driving tours of historic sites throughout Utah and explores Utah's landscape, history, and historic architecture.
Download tours individually by clicking on the tour you want!
Walking Tour of the University of Utah Presidents Circle📄
Explore the historic horseshoe of the University of Utah with this walking tour of Presidents Circle. This guide contains descriptions of ten buildings on Presidents Circle, a map, and numerous sketches. As this was produced in 1992 and has not been updated, some items may be inaccurate.
Memory Grove Scavenger Hunt📄
Embark on a fun and interactive adventure through Memory Grove! Discover nine unique landmarks as you explore the park’s historic monuments with your family. This engaging scavenger hunt is a perfect way to combine history, nature, and quality time together.
From the Archives: Self-Guided Tour Downloads
We went into our archives and found these gems!
** Please note that many of our brochures are out of print. While we have a few remaining at our office, we cannot mail copies.
** These tours were produced from the 1970s to 2010s and while they contain some great information, these versions have not been updated and some items may be inaccurate.
If you are looking for our latest and most up-to-date self-guided tours, please see our Preservation Utah Tour App information.
Private Tours
Preservation Utah offers a unique opportunity to explore our state's history and culture through private tours.
When requesting a private tour, it's important to note that while some locations offer complimentary access, others may have a nominal fee associated with them. These fees play a crucial role in supporting our nonprofit organization and allow us to continue our mission of preserving and promoting Utah's historical and cultural heritage. Each tour is designed to provide an enriching experience, and your contributions help ensure the ongoing success of our programming and operations.
Locations
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Governor’s Mansion Tour - public and private tours are free
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Salt Lake City and County Building Tour - Private Tours are $5 per person, public tours are free
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Street Tours - South Temple and Main Street - private group tours are $20/person. We also host these tours regularly, and registration is available through our website here.
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Do you have other ideas or places you are interested in? Let us know, and we will explore the possibilities.
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All Other Private Tours are $20 per person.
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Requests
To request a private tour, simply email our team at
info@preservationutah.org and provide:
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preferred date (which must be at least two weeks before the requested date to allow time to coordinate with the location and tour guides),
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preferred time
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number of participants (minimum 10 to maximum 20)
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any special accessibility needs
Dates and times are subject to the availability of tour guides and locations.
Payment
Payment is required to secure the tour reservation. The group coordinator will receive a payment link through our online payment platform.
Cancellations
Cancellations made at least seven days before the scheduled tour will receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than seven days before will forfeit the registration costs. Rescheduling requests will be accommodated based on availability.
Third Thursday Tours
Third Thursday tours are private educational tours of historic places held on the third Thursday of most months. Each month, the tour is held at a different location. Our Volunteer Council organizes the tours, available to Preservation Utah volunteers and members only.
Learn more about volunteering and the 2025 tour calendar.
Meditation Chapel Tour
At the base of City Creek Canyon lies Memory Grove Park, which Salt Lake City purchased in 1902. The Meditation Chapel is inside the park and is open to tour on the second Friday and the fourth Saturday of each month, April through October, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (with a few special exceptions; check our events calendar to stay up to date).
This is a free walk-up tour—and no registration is required. It includes a tour of the chapel's interior (one small room) but does not include a tour of the rest of the park's monuments.
McCune Mansion Historical Tours
*Please do not contact the mansion directly for historical tours. Preservation Utah tours are the only way to experience historical tours of the McCune Mansion.*
Completed in 1901 and restored in 2001, the McCune Mansion remains a Utah showplace. Alfred and Elizabeth McCune stopped keeping track of expenses after the costs for their “simple” bungalow on Capitol Hill reached $500,000. They imported roof tiles from Holland, rare white satin-grained mahogany from South America, and a room-sized mirror from Germany. The ceiling murals and decorative borders alone took an artist from New York two years to finish.
Spend an hour touring the mansion from the first-floor octagonal reception room to the third-floor glittering ballroom. The Venetian marble bathroom alone is worth the tour!
Who? - Tours are available to the general public. Registration is required.
When? - Tours are held on the second Wednesday of April through October. Please visit our events calendar to reserve your ticket. Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Each tour is one hour long and limited to 20 patrons.
How Much? - Tours are $15 per person.
Where? - The mansion is located at 200 North Main Street, Salt Lake City
Additional Information
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Professional volunteers of Preservation Utah lead all tours of the McCune Mansion.
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All questions regarding historical tours should be directed to Preservation Utah or your on-site docent, not the McCune Mansion.
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Children may attend the tour; however, it is not recommended. If you feel your child or children will enjoy it, each child must be registered and pay the $15 fee.
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Babies-in-arms at all times are permitted and do not need to pay the registration fee.
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Pets are not allowed in the mansion.
ADA Accommodations
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This tour is fully ADA-accessible.
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Service dogs are allowed in the building.
Salt Lake City and County Building Tours
The Salt Lake City and County Building is one of Salt Lake City's most beloved landmarks. Completed in 1894, the building is Utah's finest example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Its history includes the Utah State Constitutional Convention, the trial of Joe Hill, and an infamous pumpkin (so they say). In the late 1980s, it became the first building in the world to be retrofitted with base isolators. During an earthquake, the building will gently float on 440 steel and rubber “slinkies.” Preservation Utah's one-hour guided tour of the City and County Building begins with the base isolators beneath the building and ends in the clock tower high above.
Who? - Tours are open to the general public. Preservation Utah also offers free Educational Tours of the Salt Lake City and County Building designed for K-12 students.
Where? - Meet your guide at the security desk on the second level. Parking is available at meters on the building's east, south, and west sides; various summer events at Washington Square may impact parking. Trax also stops northeast of the building at the Library Station.
When? Preservation Utah offers free fifty-minute tours on the fourth Friday of April through November. Tours start at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required. Please visit our events calendar to reserve your ticket.
How much? - Summer tours are free and open to the public.
ADA Accommodations- Portions of this tour are not ADA accessible.
Kearns (Utah Governor's) Mansion Tours
The historic Kearns Mansion, with its beautiful Chateauesque exterior, stunning interior, and dramatic story of the Kearns family, is one of Utah's architectural treasures. Thomas Kearns made a fortune on the silver flowing out of Park City mines. He spared no expense in building a home that became the dazzling center of Utah's elite social life. A world-class restoration completed in 1996 restored the mansion to its original 1902 appearance. On a 45-minute guided tour of the Kearns Mansion's first floor, you can glimpse the gold-leafed dome and see Teddy Roosevelt's hat rack.
Teachers, please visit our Educator Resources for additional tour opportunities.
Historical Public Tour Schedule and Information:
Who? The tours are open to the public, and online registration is required 24 hours before. However, this tour is NOT suitable for children under 7 years of age.
Where? - The mansion is at 603 East South Temple, Salt Lake City. Please refer to your registration confirmation for additional details.
When? The first Wednesday of April through November, at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. December tours showcase the mansion decorated for the season! The holiday tour times and days vary. Holiday reservations go live at 9 a.m. on November 1st each year and sell out quickly.
How Much? Our Kearns Mansion tours are free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Visit our events calendar to find a date and time.
Additional Information
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A valid ID that matches the registration name is required for admittance.
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You may only register for a maximum of 8 tickets; if you need more, email info@preservationutah.org to schedule a private tour.
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Guests must arrive at the east gate five minutes before the tour begins.
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Each tour will be limited to 25 people.
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Each tour is 45 minutes.
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Please do not sit on furniture or touch items in the mansion.
Guided Tours for Students
Introduce students to the history of Salt Lake City with Preservation Utah's guided landmark tours! Perfect for fourth to seventh graders, these interactive experiences at the Kearns Mansion and the Salt Lake City and County Building are designed to engage and educate.
Experience Utah's architectural heritage, beauty, history, and charm with Preservation Utah's biannual Homes Tours. Each spring and fall, we invite you to step inside some of Utah’s most stunning historic residences, ranging from grand mansions to hidden architectural gems. These exclusive tours provide a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, design, and stories that make these homes unique.
Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious, the tours offer an enriching way to connect with Utah's past while celebrating preservation efforts. Proceeds from the Homes Tours support Preservation Utah's mission to protect and promote the state’s architectural legacy.
Join us this season and discover the timeless allure of Utah’s historic neighborhoods, one home at a time!