The adobe "Old Tabernacle" was located there from 1852 to 1877; it seated 2,500. The Salt Lake Tabernacle opened in 1875.

Obed Taylor designed the Assembly Hall in the popular-at-that-time Gothic Victorian Style.

Construction on the Assembly Hall confused some Salt Lake residents, many referring to it as a "new tabernacle." Hence, LDS Church President John Taylor named it the "Salt Lake Assembly Hall" in 1879. The building cost about $90,000.

President Joseph F. Smith, a counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Assembly Hall on Jan. 8, 1882.

"May the spirit of the holy gospel dwell in the midst of the people that shall come from Sabbath to Sabbath, and from time to time, to attend the meetings and worship in this house," President Smith stated in his dedicatory prayer.

The Assembly Hall resembles a small Gothic cathedral. It also boasts 24 spires around its perimeter. Stars of David are circumscribed high above each entrance.

The building has been modified and renovated over the years. For example, a weather vane, featuring a 4-foot-tall angel, like one that once topped the first Nauvoo (Ill.) Temple, was eventually removed from the Assembly Hall. Also, some original ceiling murals that depicted the Nauvoo and Kirtland (Ohio) temples, as well as other scenes from early church history such as Joseph Smith's First Vision, were removed or painted over during a renovation.

An extensive renovation on the building, seeking to restore it to its original grandeur after a century of use, took place from 1979 to 1983. This work also corrected some structural weaknesses in the building's tower and roof trusses. Steel enhanced the original roof trusses.

Each of the hall's 24 spires were capped with new fiberglass spires, as the original ones had deteriorated. These were molded to the exact shape of the originals.

All softwood benches in the Assembly Hall were replaced, and a new 3,489-pipe organ was installed. A new roof and flooring were also a part of that renovation. All woodwork was refinished and drapes were replaced with window shutters.

A large basement area was enhanced beneath the main hall, where there are three organ practice rooms. A concert grand piano and two harpsichords were added to the building's musical facilities.

The building's acoustics were also improved then by installing 800 small speakers under the benches.

Today, the Assembly Hall hosts periodic music concerts and is used for an occasional funeral.

It is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., like most of Temple Square, and concerts are often held there on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

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Sources: lds.org; Ensign magazine, Feb. 1983; New Era, July 1980; Mormon Historical Sites Registry; Wikipedia; Utahonthego.com.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com