Salt Lake City Cemetery

The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake City

The Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) lie in the cemetery. It encompasses over 250 acres (1.0 km2) and contains 9 1⁄2 miles of roads. It is the largest city-operated cemetery in the United States.

History

The first burial occurred on September 27, 1847,[1] when George Wallace buried his child, Mary Wallace. The burial was two months after the Mormon pioneers had settled the Salt Lake Valley. In 1849, George Wallace, Daniel H. Wells, and Joseph Heywood surveyed 20 acres (81,000 m2) at the same site for the area's burial grounds. In 1851, Salt Lake City was incorporated and the 20 acres (81,000 m2) officially became the Salt Lake City Cemetery with George Wallace as its first sexton.

The cemetery contains one British Commonwealth war grave, of a Canadian Army soldier of World War I.[2]

Vandals have repeatedly damaged a controversial headstone in the cemetery whose claims are contrary to those of the LDS Church.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Burial Information: WALLACE, MARY M. BABY". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Division of State History. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  2. ↑ CWGC casualty record.
  3. ↑ http://marvelousworkandawonder.com/themessage/slc-cemetery-headstone-vandalized-planned-rededication-launch-of-new-website/

References

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Coordinates: 40°46′38″N 111°51′32″W / 40.77722°N 111.85889°W / 40.77722; -111.85889

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