Pioneer Memorial Museum
Pioneer Memorial Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Museum containing memorabilia from the age of the American pioneers.
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4.5
160 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
51
Average
14
Poor
5
Terrible
1
Alex .
Nashville, TN161 contributions
Oct 2021
I wanted to like this, especially the quilts and other textiles, but there's no rhyme or reason to the layout of this building. There's also very little in the way of descriptions and NO storytelling. It's just a building with a ton - I mean a TON - of old stuff. It was neat, but you'd need 4+ hours to truly look at everything, and you wouldn't even know why it was significant. If they want this to be a true museum that attracts visitors, they should be more mindful of their displays and consider rotating their collections instead of just having everything out. The 3rd floor also has a automatic light in the doll section... creepy. I understand the place is free, but still.
If you want history, go to the This is the Place park or Temple Square.
If you want history, go to the This is the Place park or Temple Square.
Written 1 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KLHelton
6 contributions
Aug 2021
There was no story - it was a collections of thousands of items, but no story of the significance/meaning of any of it. Very disappointing. I was hoping to learn more about how the pioneers traveled to Utah, their hardships, successes, etc. Instead this was a huge collection of stuff organized by type of item - dishes, linens, etc. The best part was the easy street parking. Might be ok for little kids, plenty of interesting objects to look at.
Written 12 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dfb260
Staunton, VA490 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
An unusual, free museum with displays of some interesting items mostly related to the Utah pioneers of the 1800s. I feel that most of the donated items are there based on unauthenticated “family lore”, which is probably only somewhat accurate. In my opinion, there are some inappropriate displays of donated items such as 20th century Hummel figurines and a lady’s collection of pitchers. There is a prominent display of a Native American headdress of eagle feathers, attributed to the Cherokees; however, to my knowledge, the eastern woodland indigenous people never wore such long headdresses. This makes we question the information (family lore) provided about the items on display. Nevertheless, there are lots of interesting items and curiosities and the museum is worth some time. There are hundreds of photos of early LDS settlers. This museum is really a tribute to the early Mormon settlers.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kevan j
Norman, OK1,503 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a magnificent museum! Thousands of pieces...we especially enjoyed the paintings, the photos, and all the personal items from well-known historical Mormon personalities. Be sure to check out the paintings on the wall in the seminar room. Also, be sure to check out the drawings and pictures of the prophets in the administrative office. It's all free and the folks are very nice. Note: This museum is NOT for everyone...If local Mormon history is not fascinating to you, or if you don't have ties to Utah, you might find it pretty dry. We really enjoyed it.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York4,655 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
I walked up the hill from Temple Square to the Pioneer Memorial Museum. This large museum focuses on the pioneers who came to Utah from 1847 to 1869. They have many display cases with portraits of the pioneers above them. There are numerous exhibits on different aspects of life in the Utah Territory. The carriage house features historic vehicles, including the Council Wagon used by Brigham Young on entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. There is a lot to see in this excellent museum, especially if you are interested in history.
Written 5 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kat9951
29 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
This museum just has so many cool items. I spent a couple of hours but feel I needed longer to really take it in. There is so much information to absorb and I do feel that improved labelling would be a cheap easy way to improve the experience. It was also a shame we couldn't take pictures. i would find it hard to explain or recall what I had seen. I totally understand that flash photography could affect some artefacts but there's a lot that wouldn't be affected and just having a photo of some of the information about artefacts or a pamphlet with photos of the larger exhibits would have been really helpful and a great memento. Thanks for your hard work
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
youngarmywife
282 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
Huge collection of anything left behind by the original Latter Day Saints who came to the area. According to their beliefs, these pioneers are all saints and their artifacts are preserved here. It was more than a little creepy, this is were I would go for Halloween to get a scare! Very friendly staff who will tell you everything.
Written 24 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
womey
Apex, NC316 contributions
The Daughters of Pioneers Museum is strategically located right next to the Utah State Capitol Building just north of Temple Square. Admission is free and the museum hosts one of the best collections of pioneer-era memorabilia for museums of its kind. Plan at least an hour for a quick tour (3 hours to peruse everything).
The museum is run by the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers (which bases its headquarters out of this building). The DUP (as it's called) works hard to preserve historical sites and landmarks as well as collecting artifacts of historical value.
This ethic is very evident in the contents of the museum which also houses a collection of photographs of each Governor of Utah since its inception. In fact, the wide array of photos in the museum is one of its most striking posessions.
The museum is open Monday - Saturday year-round from 9-5 and you can look for neighborhood parking just a block or so north of the museum. Contributions are accepted by the museum (a barrel sits just inside the entrance to the 1st exhibit room where you can place your gift).
I give the museum 3 stars out of 5.
The museum is run by the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers (which bases its headquarters out of this building). The DUP (as it's called) works hard to preserve historical sites and landmarks as well as collecting artifacts of historical value.
This ethic is very evident in the contents of the museum which also houses a collection of photographs of each Governor of Utah since its inception. In fact, the wide array of photos in the museum is one of its most striking posessions.
The museum is open Monday - Saturday year-round from 9-5 and you can look for neighborhood parking just a block or so north of the museum. Contributions are accepted by the museum (a barrel sits just inside the entrance to the 1st exhibit room where you can place your gift).
I give the museum 3 stars out of 5.
Written 21 June 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnGM48
Manningtree, United Kingdom49 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
We happened upon this by accident - a happy accident. Helpful women staff (I taught one that the bicycle is called a 'penny farthing' in England). Lots of cherished things brought across the plains (lots from England) arranged by donor rather than by type. The quilts especially caught our eye. Expect to spend several hours here. There is a very evocative sculptue just outside - summed up the courage and sacrifice the Mormon pioneers wer prepared to face.
Written 29 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John L
Elkin, NC493 contributions
Feb 2013 • Family
This memorial is an extensive and eclectic collection of pioneer items mainly from the 1800's. It contains about 6 floors or more of items pertaining life in SLC as it was settled in the 1850's to 1900.
The memorial is free, and the staff is most helpful. You could spend at least 2 hours easy lookin through all the items. Many do not have posted years but are usually from that era.
It is not museum quality displays and signage but still very interesting, showing items such as carriages, and personal belongings of the pioneers and inhabitants of the late 1800's.
I suggest seeing if you have an extra hour or 2 in the temple/capitol area.
The memorial is free, and the staff is most helpful. You could spend at least 2 hours easy lookin through all the items. Many do not have posted years but are usually from that era.
It is not museum quality displays and signage but still very interesting, showing items such as carriages, and personal belongings of the pioneers and inhabitants of the late 1800's.
I suggest seeing if you have an extra hour or 2 in the temple/capitol area.
Written 25 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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