Tabernacle 1858

The first of the accompanying [2] pictures presents a view from the street (looking toward the northeast) of … the [old] Tabernacle in the foreground, its lower half concealed by the wall which surrounds the entire square of ten acres. This wall is built of adobes, plastered with a durable cement, and surmounted with a coping of sandstone. The Tabernacle is a large, commodious building capable of seating nearly 2500 persons; back of it, partially hidden by trees, and in the next corner of the block, stands the Endowment House … Apostate Mormons, suddering at the thought of the dreadful oaths taken therein, look upon this building as the very hell of hells. The windows of both of these structures are still boarded up as they were prepared previous to the late abandonment of the city. The buildng standing alone upon the bench in the rear, presenting its gable to us is the City Arsenal. Beneath the young shade trees surroundng the block and by the side of the pure mountain stream which flows along the edge of the sidewalk, may be seen two emigrant wagons … Harpers Weekly, September 18, 1858, p. 605. "The Tabernacle at Salt Lake City." Engraving from a photograph by Burr & Mogo.

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