Utah has been growing by leaps and bounds since before it even became a state. Some of these photos depict the ways in which Utah has grown and adopted new technology and ideas. Others are much smaller snapshots that show tiny changes in the way we are now compared to then. Whether you feel nostalgic for Utah’s past, or happy about the changes in our state over the last 100 years, I hope you find these then-and-now comparisons intriguing.
- Salt Lake City Main Street, 1921
By Ewing Galloway [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Salt Lake City’s Main Street in 1921 was bustling and busy.
Steve Way/flickr Today’s Main Street still has many of its historic buildings. New additions include the Wells Fargo Building and TRAX.
- University of Utah Campus, Early 1920s
Unknown[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons President’s Circle and some surrounding buildings. Notice all that empty land in the upper left corner.
Edgar Zuniga Jr./flickr Today, you have to get a much wider shot to capture all of the university’s campus. You can make out the stadium to the right and the Huntsman Center to the left.
- University of Utah Football Team, 1905
By The University of Utah [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Aren’t these chaps handsome in their uniforms? Note the pads on their shoulders and elbows. I assume that this is the entire team.
Dinur/flickr This shot at a 2013 game shows some of the Utah Utes team. The uniform has changed quite a bit, hasn’t it?
- Bingham Canyon Mine, 1942
Loco Steve/flickr See the train in the foreground? This photo shows how large the mine was in 1942. It was pretty impressive, even then.
Miaomiao WANG/flickr Clearly, the mine is a LOT bigger now.
- Glen Canyon, 1957
By F.S. Finch, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Before the dam was built.
Jiashiang/flickr The Glen Canyon Dam is just across Utah’s border, but it sure changed the landscape of our state.
- Saltair, 1910
The first Saltair. People once swam in the Great Salt Lake, and traveled from all over the state to hear big bands like Glen Miller. It was destroyed by a fire in 1925.
After a second Saltair was built and burnt to the ground, this third rendition was constructed in 1981. Today, Saltair occasionally hosts concerts, but it’s never become as popular as the first Saltair.
- Alta Ski Resort, 1941
Forest History Society/flickr Just a small lodge and a few skiers…
KMJ Photography/flickr The lodge is nicer and the lift is much more technologically advanced, but you still won’t find snowboarders at Alta!
- Welcome to Utah, 1952
Grant Proctor Trust (NL)/flickr Back then, it was all about the beehive and the seagulls.
Aram Kudurshian/flickr Now we have a catchy slogan: “Life Elevated.”
- Provo, 1958
C.Kelly Roberts/flickr BYU students gathered to paint the Y in 1958. The valley below is fairly sparse.
Ken Lund/flickr Today, all that empty space in the valley is filled up with homes and businesses.
- Dinosaur National Monument, 1966
JudyLCrook/flickr Apparently, Dad didn’t wear a shirt back then.
Steve Bernacki/flickr The sign is nicer and the clothes are different, but Dinosaur National Monument is still a great place to visit.
- The Peery Hotel, 1930
The Peery Hotel/Facebook The Peery was built in 1910. The storefronts on the street level were a lot less polished.
The Peery Hotel/Facebook You can still stay at the Peery, which retains much of its turn-of-the-century charm.
What changes have you noticed in Utah during your lifetime? Share your stories with us in the comments!
By Ewing Galloway [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Salt Lake City’s Main Street in 1921 was bustling and busy.
Steve Way/flickr
Today’s Main Street still has many of its historic buildings. New additions include the Wells Fargo Building and TRAX.
Unknown[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
President’s Circle and some surrounding buildings. Notice all that empty land in the upper left corner.
Edgar Zuniga Jr./flickr
Today, you have to get a much wider shot to capture all of the university’s campus. You can make out the stadium to the right and the Huntsman Center to the left.
By The University of Utah [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Aren’t these chaps handsome in their uniforms? Note the pads on their shoulders and elbows. I assume that this is the entire team.
Dinur/flickr
This shot at a 2013 game shows some of the Utah Utes team. The uniform has changed quite a bit, hasn’t it?
Loco Steve/flickr
See the train in the foreground? This photo shows how large the mine was in 1942. It was pretty impressive, even then.
Miaomiao WANG/flickr
Clearly, the mine is a LOT bigger now.
By F.S. Finch, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Before the dam was built.
Jiashiang/flickr
The Glen Canyon Dam is just across Utah’s border, but it sure changed the landscape of our state.
The first Saltair. People once swam in the Great Salt Lake, and traveled from all over the state to hear big bands like Glen Miller. It was destroyed by a fire in 1925.
After a second Saltair was built and burnt to the ground, this third rendition was constructed in 1981. Today, Saltair occasionally hosts concerts, but it’s never become as popular as the first Saltair.
Forest History Society/flickr
Just a small lodge and a few skiers…
KMJ Photography/flickr
The lodge is nicer and the lift is much more technologically advanced, but you still won’t find snowboarders at Alta!
Grant Proctor Trust (NL)/flickr
Back then, it was all about the beehive and the seagulls.
Aram Kudurshian/flickr
Now we have a catchy slogan: “Life Elevated.”
C.Kelly Roberts/flickr
BYU students gathered to paint the Y in 1958. The valley below is fairly sparse.
Ken Lund/flickr
Today, all that empty space in the valley is filled up with homes and businesses.
JudyLCrook/flickr
Apparently, Dad didn’t wear a shirt back then.
Steve Bernacki/flickr
The sign is nicer and the clothes are different, but Dinosaur National Monument is still a great place to visit.
The Peery Hotel/Facebook
The Peery was built in 1910. The storefronts on the street level were a lot less polished.
You can still stay at the Peery, which retains much of its turn-of-the-century charm.
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