Church History Museum — Attraction in Salt Lake City

After circling around the adjacent Temple Square, a visit to the free LDS Church History Museum was the end of our "Mormon tour" for the day!

Upon entering, we were greeted by very friendly volunteer staff, one of whom offered to whisk us through the main floor on a brief guided tour. My friend is Jewish and I'm Lutheran Protestant, and admittedly, neither of us are too religious. Despite this, the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was delivered to us in an easily-digestible manner as we walked through the chronologically-arranged museum path. Along the way, she drew several parallels between their faith and both of ours, illustrating examples where thoughts differed or where they were similar. There was no religious "sales pitch" or anything, just good information as to their take on certain Biblical events.

The exhibits themselves were well-furnished, with several original artifacts (or near replications) peppered around. Plaques, interactive features, and other elements further immersed us into each "scene" as we progressed through. We spent most of our time on the main floor, but ventured upstairs for a quick glimpse at some beautiful Indian artwork before heading out.

Thank you to our wonderful (and non-judgmental!) tour guide, who was very knowledgable and helpful throughout our visit. If you're already here visiting the nearby Temple Square, set aside 30-60 minutes for a stop at...

If you didn't enjoy your visit to the Church History Museum, there could be several reasons why it didn't meet your expectations. Some visitors find the museum's exhibits heavily focused on the history and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which might not resonate with everyone, especially if you're not particularly interested in religious history. The content could feel somewhat niche or specialized, with a strong emphasis on the church's pioneers, doctrine, and artifacts that may not be universally engaging.

The museum's layout and presentation style might also seem dated or less interactive compared to more modern museums. While the exhibits are well-curated for those deeply interested in LDS history, the lack of broader historical context or interactive elements could make the experience feel dry or uninviting to some.

Additionally, if you were looking for a more critical or diverse portrayal of the events and figures in LDS history, the museum's approach, which tends to be more celebratory and faith-affirming, might not have aligned with your expectations.

Overall, while many people appreciate the Church History Museum for its detailed exploration of LDS history, it might not be the best fit for everyone, especially those looking for a more balanced or engaging...

One of the fun things about the museum is an original pioneer log house outside the front entrance. It was locked when we arrived, but when it's not (probably in warmer weather) you can step just inside the door and see the furnishings. We could tell that by looking in the window. The museum is not large, but the two floors of exhibits are modern and attractively arranged, with a number of interactive features. There are plenty of volunteers on hand to answer questions. I took my two sons, ages 12 and 5, hoping to see the special exhibit for children, but it doesn't reopen until Feb 12. There was, however, a room with a few toys and books, including some old fashioned pioneer toys. My boys spent 15 or 20 minutes each on a painting app on a screen mounted on an easel, and another 15 minutes with other items. Then we walked through another exhibit I was interested in, but only for a few minutes because my 12 year old was ready to go. My 5 year old could have been happy for a while longer, I think, because there were so many things that caught his eye. Ours was a short visit, and we didn't see much, but since it's free it wasn't a lost investment. Another plus was the free parking...