Rededication of Capitol to mirror 1916

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Much as the newly renovated Utah State Capitol preserves the design and colors of the original, the formal re-dedication program today also mirrors — to some extent — the formal opening back on Oct. 9, 1916.

"The vision for the program really follows the vision of the whole project," said Wilson Martin, state historic preservation officer.

The newly restored Capitol is such that if Richard K.A. Kletting, architect of the original structure, were to see it today, he would exclaim, "Oh, it's all here," Martin said.

"It actually looks very modern, even to our eye today, even though it was planned clear back in 1914-15 and executed in 1916," he said. "So the theme of preservation of our past is retold from every angle, from the paint, to the murals, to the windows, to the light, even to the program."

"What we tried to do is let history help us with the program itself," said Allyson Gamble, director of communications for the Capitol Preservation Board.

There are some differences this time, most notably the closed dedication ceremony and invitation-only reception tonight. For the original dedication, which was open to the public, more than 30,000 people attended.

There will be public fireworks over the rededicated Capitol at 5:15 p.m. The first public tours of the Capitol will begin Saturday, with events every day for a week.

Another difference between the two events will be — at least according to plan — the performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during the rededication. The choir was supposed to perform at the original dedication but did not end up singing because the crowd filled their reserved seats in front of the governor's stand, according to a Salt Lake Tribune story from 1916.

Joined by the Orchestra at Temple Square, International Children's Choir and Utah National Guard 23rd Army Band, the choir will perform the specially commissioned "Anthem for a New Year: Into the Light," with words by Katherine Coles, Utah's poet laureate, and music by Kurt Bestor.

Otherwise, the program, which starts at 2 p.m. today, will closely resemble the original ceremony. It will be most apparent with the choices of speakers:

• LDS Church President Joseph F. Smith was the featured speaker at the original dedication, so current President Gordon B. Hinckley will be the featured speaker for the rededication.

• The Rev. J.E. Carver of Ogden gave the invocation in 1916. This time, the Rev. Charles Petty of Ogden's Second Baptist Church will have that honor.