Fillmore Territorial Statehouse ~ State Historical Monument & Museum

Location: Behind Millard County Courthouse - Fillmore, Utah. Tours on request. Winter Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sunday. Summer Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $1/person or $5/vehicle (family).

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On September 8, 1851, Governor Brigham Young placed his cane on the northeast corner of this block in Fillmore and designated this geographically centered location as Utah's capital.

The large open space, water and building materials were favorable for settlement. In a political move, the Governor named the town Fillmore and the county Millard after President Millard Fillmore.

Construction of a Territorial Statehouse commenced in 1852, the first wing of which was completed in 1855. The architect was Truman O. Angell who designed the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City. Local red sandstone and native timber were used as construction materials. The statehouse was planned to be a monumental structure, but the majority of the structure was never completed. It was used by the 5th (1855), 6th (1856) and 8th (1858) Utah State Legislatures.

Development of the territory was slow. Accommodations at Fillmore proved inadequate and too distant from the center of activity at Salt Lake City, so the capitol was returned to Salt Lake City in December 1858.

As the focal point of the community, the Statehouse has served many functions over the years. First as Utah's capital building, then as a school, dance hall, theater, jail, and even a hiding place for the Deseret News during the Utah War in 1857. By the turn of the century it had fallen into disuse and decay. The Daughters of the Utah pioneers were responsible for restoring the Territorial Statehouse and reopened it as a museum in 1930. The Utah State Legislature of 1947 returned to Fillmore to hold one session, to commemorate the centennial year of when the pioneers entered the Salt Lake valley.

Today the building is the oldest existing governmental building in the state. It currently serves as a State Museum. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It houses a large collection of pioneer artifacts as well as items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of which were used in the Fillmore area. Many artifacts are on display about the Paiute Indians who lived peacefully with the local farmers. Their cheif, Kanosh, was a good friend to the community and was baptized a member of the Morman Church.

One room in the Statehouse museum houses artifacts from the Kanosh Indians. Chief Kanosh's bow and arrows are on display.

Sources: Statehouse Museum interpretive displays. "Discovering Millard County" magazine.

The Territorial Statehouse today is a State Museum.

Artists' conception of planned statehouse. Only one wing was completed.

The Territorial Statehouse prior to restoration.

There is a beautiful grand ballroom upstairs.

Many photos of early pioneers line the walls of the lower level.