SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Many people in Utah celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24 — but some may not know that July 24 is also the anniversary of the dedication of Salt Lake City’s “ This is the Place ” monument.
On July 24, 1947, thousands of people gathered at the bottom of the monument as it was dedicated. The chair over the dedication was David O. McKay , who would later become the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Dignitaries at the dedication all had a hand at the trowel as they set the last stone at the monument. Everyone in attendance listened as then-President George Albert Smith paid tribute to the pioneers — but few were able to get close enough to see the details of the stature.
J. Reuben Clark (a Latter-day Saint who served in the First Presidency of the church) was part of the program — and Clark brought his granddaughters to the ceremony.
While ABC4’s Craig Wirth wasn’t at the dedication in 1947, he was able to speak with Clark’s granddaughters quite a few years later.