Lion House celebrating 150 years

In her research, Davies was surprised to find that Brigham Young had a gymnasium built on the west side of the house for his many children to enjoy "physical culture." In 1859, a Deseret News article noted that 75 people were living in the home, 40 of them children.

By the time of Young's death in 1877 in the Lion House, only a few wives were still living there, according to Davies.

In 1900, it was sold by the Young family to the LDS Church, and the LDS College's high school used the top floors to teach cooking and sewing. The downstairs was used as a cafeteria for students and church employees.

In 1931, the building was donated to the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association by LDS President Heber J. Grant.

It was used as a girls social center until it closed for repairs in 1964. In 1969, it re-opened for weddings and membership-only dining, and in 1991, the Pantry was opened to the public.

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E-mail: vphillips@desnews.com