The downtown Salt Lake City retail and restaurant marketplace has seen some big shake-ups since the end of lockdowns. The demolition of the former Sears, which bookended State Street for over 65 years, now leaves a very large visible void. But State Street has seen some positive developments. iconoCLAD clothing (which offers costumes and clothing for festivals and raves) … [Read more...]
The Untold Story of Downtown Salt Lake City’s Main Street
According to Dee Brewer of the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance, Downtown Salt Lake City's population will more than double in the next two years. This is based upon the timeline for completion of all of the apartments currently under construction. Are residents and SLC planners prepared for this growth? What are they doing to accommodate the huge influx of residents? What … [Read more...]
Not All Lightshows Are Safe. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Benefits Utah’s Downwinders
Utah’s downwinders are finally getting the help they deserve. This past June, Congress extended the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, a decades-old program that offers payments to people who have suffered health effects as a result of working in the uranium industry, and to “downwinders,” people who have been harmed by the fallout from nuclear weapons … [Read more...]
John Browning: The Ogden Man Who Revamped Firearms Technology
Utahns love their guns, and they have John Moses Browning to thank for it. Browning was a renowned and influential firearms designer responsible for developing numerous varieties of military and civilian firearms, many of which were so impactful that they are still in use today. Nearly every type of gun has Browning’s fingerprints engrained in its history somewhere, and … [Read more...]
How Moab, Utah Moved from Mining to Recreation
The rugged terrain around Moab—cut by rivers, sheer rock faces, and steep inclines—wasn’t always as accessible as it is now. The dirt roads and singletrack trails that, today, invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore the area’s cliffs and canyons and admire the red rock towers and buttes, once served the ranching and mining industries that drove the local economy before tourism … [Read more...]
Moab, Utah: Uranium Boom Led to One of the Most Vibrant Towns in Utah
How the uranium boom went bust but still led to one of the most vibrant towns in Utah Charlie Steen’s rags-to-riches story has been told so many times it’s reached legend status: how he prospected unsuccessfully for two years in the Moab area before deciding to call it quits, and in testing his very last core sample, he discovered the high-grade uranium ore that made him … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Main Street in Moab, Utah
Barreling south on Highway 191, following the Old Spanish Trail, drivers cross the Colorado River to arrive in Moab, a town made up almost entirely of hotels and tourist traps, T-shirt shops, and eclectic cafes, all surrounded by stunning natural beauty. In the days of horse-drawn carriages, there was a precipitous 25-foot drop that required skillful maneuvering to gain … [Read more...]
Salt Lake’s Early Days: Prostitution in Utah
Red Lights & Scarlet Ladies Salt Lake's Early Brothels You won't read about it in the history books, and you won't hear about it at Sunday School, but Salt Lake’s early days were rife with vice, including prostitution. Although the Mormon settlers practiced virtuous living and eschewed sins of all sorts, it wasn’t long before the saloons, gambling halls and … [Read more...]
Secret Tunnels under Ogden’s 25th Street
A walk down Ogden’s 25th Street is a sight for historic eyes. The preserved architecture is reminiscent of the bustling railroad town that once stood, many of the original building signs are intact, and many modern businesses continue to display art and memorabilia from original decor. Legend has it that even the ground beneath your feet holds mysteries of “Two Bit Street.” … [Read more...]
Gold Prospecting in Utah: How to Find Gold in Utah’s Mountains
There's gold in them thar hills, and the 150 members of the Utah Gold Prospecting Club (UGPC) are celebrating the club's 40th anniversary by looking for, and in some cases, finding it. Gold and the West are inseparable. Pioneers did not journey to California to look for silicon. No, the valleys they were seeking had nuggets of shiny paydirt, and Utah is part of this … [Read more...]