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Historic buildings at Fort Douglas

Walking Tour- Information Booklet
Courtesy of the University of Utah, you can print out this .pdf file and use it to explore the many interesting sites and learn about their past and present uses.

Virtual Tour of Fort Douglas Complex
Individual photos and history and present use of nearly every building in the complex. Divided into several zones. Another outstanding University of Utah project,

(click on any picture to see a larger version)

The "heritage commons" preserves the core of the historic structures associated with Fort Douglas. Centered on the Parade Field are numerous buildings built as barracks for infantry troops or homes for officers. Most date to 1875 ( a year before the Custer massacre) and are considered to be among the finest surviving examples of "quartermaster gothic" architecture.

The first troops to arrive in 1862 lived in hastily made dugouts covered by tents. The remains of one dugout had been located by archaeologists, near the present site of the pedestrian overpass: It was probably the home and store of the post trader or "sutler" the forerunner of the Post Exchange or PX to supply miscellaneous good to the troops and their families. The sutler was especially welcome at Fort Douglas as Brigham Young had forbidden the Mormons in Utah from doing business with the Army at Fort Douglas. While only photos of the excavated location remain today, photos of a reconstructed dugout near Logan, Utah, at the home of the Festival of the American West show how the Fort Douglas structures may have appeared.

The following year permanent buildings were started. Numerous log buildings were erected that year for living quarters and supply buildings. Adobe began to be used for other builidings Only one adobe builiding remains, the former post commander's quarters (Building 55).

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In 1875 extensive construction at the post replaced the log structures with the red sandstone buildings seen today. Later construction in 1884, 1910 and 1931 added more buildings to meet the changing needs and missions of the Fort.

Many buildings have been modified for different purposes, destroyed by fire, or replaced by newer buildings, or eventually destroyed to make room for non-military uses as Fort Douglas' land was absorbed by the expansion of Salt Lake City, and the University of Utah's campus and associated research park business partners.

Let's take a detailed look at some of these historic buildings: (or return to Main Page)

Historic Buildings Controlled by Fort Douglas Military Museum:
Building 32, Main Museum Building (open to the public)
Built in 1875 to house an Infantry company (about 50 men), this has been used at various times for office space, a post office and supply storage.

Building 31 (not currently open to the public)
Like the adjacent Building 32, this was built in 1875 to house an Infantry company (about 50 men). Over the years it has been used for varied purposes, including the post library. This will be the location of the Museum's upcoming exhibits related to the history of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

Building 55 (not currently open to the public) .....
Built in 1863, it is the only surviving example of adobe construction at Fort Douglas. Serving first as the Post Commander's house, it was later used as housing for other officers or senior non-commissioned officers. For a detailed history of Building 55 and more photos, click here.

Historic Buildings controlled by the University of Utah

Officers' Circle- (not open to the public)

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.... Built in 1875, each was a duplex with an officer's family living on each side of the building. Located at the head of the parade ground, these provided a fine view of growing Salt Lake City and the beautiful vista of the Great Salt Lake and neighboring mountains. About 1910 each set of quarters had an addition at the rear to be used as servants' quarters. The buildings on Officers' Circle are undergoing renovation for use as housing for faculty, visitors, and selected students from the University of Utah. For detailed history of Officers' Circle and more views of the buildings, click here.

Bandstand

A bandstand on the circle in front of the quarters was the center of entertainment for people at the fort, and often hosted public events for residents of Salt Lake City. The current bandstand is an exact replica of the original, restored in 2001. Avariety of musical events will be scheduled there. (Part of the funds for the restoration were provided by an Army Master Sergeant's daughter who grew up on Fort Douglas, and attended the University of Utah!) For detailed history of the bandstand and more view, click here.

Post Chapel

When closed in 1991 it was the longest continuously operating military chapel in the U.S. Army. Built in 1884 from wood, instead of the sandstone typical of most buildings on the post. The interior and exterior had a major renovation in 2001-2002, and it is once again available. For detailed history of the Chapel and more views, click here. The Chapel is complete and served the Olympic village. Salt Lake Tribune story Deseret News story
Rededication May 2002. Salt Lake Tribune story Deseret News story

Officers' Club

Built in 1874-75 as the headquarters building, this was later a barracks for the post military band, and eventually became the officers' club, and finally a combined club open to all military and civilian personnel connected with the fort. Various additions added room for patrons' dining and drinking pleasure. At the time of its closing, it had a unique atmosphere that conveyed the tradition and mystique of the U.S. Army's role in the settling of the west and service through most of the 20th century. Adjacent to the Club is the location of the former eastern terminus of the trolley line that connected Fort Douglas with downtown Salt Lake City from about 1890 to 1970. The Officers' Club had a major renovation in 2001-2002 and is now a social center for various events. For detailed history of the Officers' Club and more views, click here.

Officers' Quarters (not open to the public)

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Bordering the parade ground on the north and west sides, these include one infantry barracks later converted to spacious quarters for the post commander after fire damaged the building previously used for that purpose since 1876. Several other brick quarters were added in 1931. A large brick Bachelor Officers' Quarters (BOQ) was built just northeast of the Parade Ground in 1904.

stables (not open to the public)

Built about 1890 to house up to 98 horses. Some cavalry units and artillery units assigned to the fort required large numbers of horses. Other horses were used for supply and other utility task, much as we use pick up trucks today.

Historic Buildings controlled by the U.S. Army Reserve
Soldiers Circle (not open to the public)

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Built 1904 and 1939, each of the six brick buildings was to be home for 250 soldiers assigned to units at the Fort. Following WW2, these were mostly converted to house administrative offices. They are used by the U.S. Army Reserve for various support functions today.

Other major buildings of Fort Douglas

Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center (Bldg. 116) (not open to the public)

Supports approximately 500 Navy and 150 Marine Corps reservists assigned to various units.

Theater Built in 1932- before and during a thorough renovation in 2001.

PX (Post Exchange)- Basically a convenience store

for active duty and retired military military people in the area. Opened in 1905, this is the oldest Army PX continuously operating in its original building.

University of Utah Guest House-

Temporary lodging for visitors, and was used to support the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Student Housing

Property Under Control of the U.S. Army
Fort Douglas Military Cemetery

Final resting place for military members of the U.S. and other armed forces, including German prisoners of war from WW1.

Construction methods used at Fort Douglas

                            Dates
                            1862 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Structure Types
dugouts/tents         xx
adobe/log                xxxxxxxx
sandstone                             xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
brick                                                           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wood frame                                                                                       xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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