About the Historical Society
Official state historical organization operating museum, library, and historic sites. Preserves collections documenting Mormon pioneer settlement, Native American heritage, mining, and Utah's unique cultural development.
The Utah Historical Society was founded on July 22, 1897. According to the Society, Governor Heber M. Wells urged the new organization to write a "true history of the state." Now operating as the Utah Historical Society (formerly the Utah Division of State History), it is a division of the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement. Its mission, the Society states, is to foster curiosity about the past, inform the present, and strengthen Utah's shared future.
Collections, Research, and the Utah Historical Quarterly
The Society's work reaches the public through several long-running programs and resources, including:
- The Utah Historical Quarterly, the Society's journal, which has published research for over 90 years
- A research center where the public can order high-resolution digital images and photographic prints of historic images
- Historical collections of artifacts and manuscripts that continue to grow through new acquisitions
- The "Utah History Happenings" blog, which contextualizes the state's cherished stories, resources, and events
Recent Society storytelling has highlighted topics such as the Spanish-speaking peoples of Utah, World War II rail workers, and the centennial of the 19th Amendment and women's suffrage, reflecting the breadth of Utah's history.
Planning Your Visit
The Utah Historical Society offers membership (including its Seagull Circle), a newsletter, upcoming events, and a popular historic license plate program supporting Utah history. For current hours, events, research-center services, and membership details, visit the Society's website at history.utah.gov.
Explore Utah's Historical Landscape
Use the When It Was app to discover historical businesses, landmarks, and buildings throughout Utah. See how your community has transformed over the decades.
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