The museum of Salt Lake City‘s history is run by volunteers and contains a keen collection of artifacts from the city’s past. Among them are lighting equipment used by pioneers and a restored 1902 fire engine. Pioneers could be railroad workers, miners, Mormons, or anyone else who travelled into the region before it became US territory.
I particularly enjoyed the exhibits on the short-lived pony express and seeing the real golden spike that connected the American continent from coast to coast. There’s also an original wagon from the nineteenth century, it’s a lot bigger than I imagined one would be.
For researchers, there’s a photo archive and a library of historical books and records. Entry is free whenever it’s open and I recommended seeing the state capitol just next door after the museum.
