100 Year Celebration

We were invited (along with millions of people- including you!) to celebrate the 100 Years of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
It is a most beautiful building, a stunning landmark for Salt Lake City (and now the Church)

Built in 1911, this building started out as the Hotel Utah. A wonderful resort for people of all over to come and celebrate any occasion. In fact, every President of the United States from 1911 until it's closing in 1987 has stayed at the Hotel Utah. One of the first was President Taft.

Here's a picture of Pres. Kennedy at the Hotel Utah (I LOVE the tile floor). Since my sister Kathy started managing the Garden Restaurant, we frequent this place quite a bit so we had to be part of this special 100 year celebration -

Chef Pedro of the Roof is a master of the culinay arts and tonight was NO exception (Chef Scott from the Garden is also fantastic)

In honor of the celebration, the Hotel lobby had displays and memorabila from 1911, complete with the Hosts, and Hostess' all gussied up in time period attire

Kathy has shared many special things with us about her love of this building. I hope I don't get anyone in trouble...but I have to say thanks to her we have climbed around in places, and seen parts of the building very few ever get to see! I remember one night she showed us accounting books she had found of the old Hotel Utah and signed by President Joseph F. Smith - in his very own hand writing! Priceless! If you haven't eaten dinner on the 10th floor in the dead of summer when the atrium is open to the beautiful star filled night - or caught the views of the Temple or Temple Square (ANYTIME) but particularily at Christmas time, or visited the beautiful, special Chapel or the Legacy Theater - well you simply haven't been part of Salt Lake City! If you came and celebrated on this special night - not only did you take away more memories, you also received a special gold coin -

I know it looks silver - but my camera isn't the best, trust me, it's gold, and it's beautiful! As we were leaving that night, we also caught a glimps of the program and festivities, including Pres. Monson cutting the ribbon - the lobby was PACKED (can you see the siloettes of the people up on the balconies too?)

It was a wonderful, 100 year celebration. Congratuations to the Beautiful Joseph Smith Memorial Building!