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Provo Tabernacle (Provo, Utah)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1886 - 2010

Biography

The Provo Tabernacle served as tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to 2010 in downtown Provo, Utah. During these years it served as a venue for various religious and cultural events.

The first tabernacle was smaller and stood near the larger one from 1861 to 1919. Construction for the second and larger Provo tabernacle, often referred to as the Utah Stake Tabernacle or the New Provo Tabernacle, started in 1883. The building was designed by William Folsom, and could seat 3,000 individuals in the auditorium and balconies. Harvey H. Cluff oversaw construction. Much of the funding for the construction came from donations by wards in the Utah Stake, which included most of Utah County. The tabernacle was in use by 1886, when it held the Church's general conference on April 6 when members of the First Presidency were in hiding for practicing polygamy. The tabernacle was dedicated on April 17, 1898 by George Q. Cannon, with President Joseph F. Smith also in attendance.

Over the years, the Provo Tabernacle hosted several important community and cultural events, including performances by Abbie Carrington in 1891 and Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1938, and a visit by U. S. President William Howard Taft in 1909. In 1975, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

A four-alarm fire was reported at the tabernacle early in the morning of December 17, 2010, entirely gutting the building and causing the roof to collapse. In the October 2011 semi-annual general conference of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson announced that the Provo Tabernacle would be rebuilt to serve as a second temple in Provo. A public open house was held in early 2015, and the temple was dedicated on March 20, 2016.

Citation:
Wikipedia, Feb. 25, 2021 (Provo Tabernacle; served as tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to 2010 in downtown Provo, Utah; venue for various religious and cultural events; first tabernacle was smaller and stood near the larger one from 1861 to 1919; construction for the second and larger Provo tabernacle, often referred to as the Utah Stake Tabernacle or the New Provo Tabernacle, started in 1883; designed by William Folsom; could seat 3,000 individuals in the auditorium and balconies; Harvey H. Cluff oversaw construction; in use by 1886, when it held the church's general conference on April 6 when members of the First Presidency were in hiding for practicing polygamy; dedicated on April 17, 1898 by George Q. Cannon, with President Joseph F. Smith also in attendance; hosted several important community and cultural events, including performances by Abbie Carrington in 1891 and Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1938, and a visit by U.S. President William Howard Taft in 1909; in 1975, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places; four-alarm fire was reported at the tabernacle early in the morning of December 17, 2010; In the October 2011 semi-annual general conference of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson announced that the Provo Tabernacle would be rebuilt to serve as a second temple in Provo; public open house was held in early 2015; the temple was dedicated on March 20, 2016)

UPB files, Feb. 25, 2021 (Much of the funding for the construction came from donations by wards in the Utah Stake, which included most of Utah County)

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Brigham Young University graduation photograph

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225522793]
Identifier: MSS 3057
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a Brigham Young University graduating class, circa 1905-1910, inside the Provo Tabernacle.

Dates: approximately 1905-1910

Oral history interview with Carl Joseph Christensen

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230350875]
Identifier: MSS 5891
Abstract

An oral history interview with Carl Joseph Christensen, conducted by Lucille Merrill McDonald on 10 February 1985.

Dates: 1985

Connelly family photographs of Mormon temples and Provo Tabernacle

 Collection — Folder 1
Identifier: MSS 8759
Scope and Contents

Contains a computer disk with digital images of the Latter-day Saint Nauvoo Temple, Orlando Florida Temple, Preston England Temple, Washington DC Temple, and Provo Tabernacle. There are also prints of these images. These were printed by the Photograph Archives. Materials dated 2008 to 2009.

Dates: 2008-2009

Joseph L. Garrard photograph of the Provo Utah East Stake choir

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233598710]
Identifier: MSS 8021
Scope and Contents

Photograph of the Provo East Stake's annual Christmas Fireside in the Provo Tabernacle, the last event held in the tabernacle. The photograph was taken on December 12, 2010, five days before the Provo Tabernacle burnt down. The image includes the stake choir and orchestra, as well as the stake presidency.

Dates: 2010 December 12

Oral history interview with Debbie Halliday on the Provo Tabernacle

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233286548]
Identifier: MSS 7709
Scope and Contents

Contains an oral history interview with Debbie Halliday. In the interview, Halliday describes the fire at the Provo Tabernacle on December 17, 2010.

Dates: 2010

Provo Tabernacle account books

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197227342679]
Identifier: MSS 246
Scope and Contents

Handwritten ledgers and account books related to the construction and function of the Provo Tabernacle between 1882 and 1894. The items list financial donations and other contributions given by the various wards of the Utah Stake to support the tabernacle and stake functions.

Dates: 1882-1894

Tale of two tabernacles : history of Provo Tabernacle and the old Provo Meeting House

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230348341]
Identifier: MSS 1388
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typewritten history. Christensen writes about the first two tabernacles for the Mormon Church in Provo, Utah. Also included are photocopies of photographs of the buildings.

Dates: 1973

George Taylor photographs

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 151
Scope and Contents

Collection includes photographs, prints, and glass plate negatives of Provo, Utah in early 1900s. Photographs include images of George Taylor's family members, self-portraits, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Materials are dated 1890-1910.

Dates: approximately 1900

Lee E. Young photographs

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233601084]
Identifier: MSS P 88
Scope and Contents

Collection includes five photographs and 26 negatives with images of Provo, Utah, taken by Young between the 1920s and the 1960s. Includes photographs of the Provo Tabernacle.

Dates: approximately 1920-1969