A Celebration of Utah

“…In robes of statehood dressed, Utah, we love thee!
Columbia's newest star, Utah, we love thee!
Thy lustre shines afar, Utah, we love thee!
Bright in our banner's blue, Among her sisters true,
She proudly comes to view, Utah, we love thee!
(Evan Stephens, “Utah, We Love Thee”)

Salt Lake City, January 4, 1896, 8:03 a.m.

After six petitions to the federal government over the course of nearly 50 years, Utah’s struggle for statehood finally ended when a presidential telegram announced its admittance into the Union as the 45th star. Celebrations abound as people across the state excitedly came together to commemorate this historic day with bells, whistles, and firecrackers. However, it was not until later in the month that the real work of forging state unity began.

On January 13, 1896, Governor Heber M. Wells opened Utah’s first state legislative session, calling together forty-five individuals of different political parties, hailing from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, to create policies for the new State of Utah.

Exhibit Use Notes:

See red text? Click on it to follow the hyperlink.

Curious about the legislators? Visit the Senator and Representatives Collections

Interested in objects? View the Artifacts of Statehood Collection

Want to keep celebrating and learning about Utah's 125th Anniversary? Vist Thrive125 for more.

Regarding Terminology: In acknowledgment of the desires of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be referred to by their “full and proper name,” this exhibit uses the full name where possible or the shortened phrases approved by their leaders. Any use of the terms “Mormon,” “Mormonism,” or “LDS” to refer to this group are used contextually in quotes or other historical references.