Logan Tabernacle – Cache Stake Tabernacle
The Logan Tabernacle is a tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and is located in Logan, Cache County, Utah. It is the site of many local celebrations, including the city’s annual Summerfest Arts Faire.
Several historic markers are located here, including:
Located at 50 North Main Street in Logan, Utah and added to the National Register of Historic Places (#75001800) on October 15, 1975.
Construction work on the Logan Tabernacle began in 1864, five years after the settlement of Cache Valley. Although the tabernacle was off to a good start with 1864 meeting, the not dedicated some I75 persons subscribing a total of $26,450 at a December 7, 1864 meeting, the project lagged for several reasons and the completed tabernacle was until 1891, more than a quarter century after the work began.
The heavy increase of population in Cache Valley led to the establishment of many wards in the area with each ward having the responsibility to construct its own meetinghouse. The building of these ward chapels absorbed most of the available labor and cash. Work on the Tabernacle was also slowed because of the absence of several church officials on missionary work and the deaths of leaders, Ezra T. Benson and Peter Maughan. After 1877 and the decision to construct the Logan Temple, the tabernacle was given second priority. In 1877, Charles O. Card, Superintendent of construction of the Tabernacle, was transferred to supervise the building of the Logan Temple, and Bishop Anthon Skanchy was assigned to supervise work on the Tabernacle until its completion.
In an 1873 visit to Logan, Brigham Young advised that the original 60 foot by 106 foot foundation be torn out and enlarged to 65 feet by 130 feet. On January 1874, the basement story was dedicated. By 1878, the upper story was sufficiently complete to hold the August quarterly conference there. The present entrance and tower were built later under the direction of George Cole and in November 1891 the completed tabernacle was dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff.
The Logan tabernacle derives its significance from its architectural qualities, its function as the primary LDS meeting hall in Cache Valley and its story of twenty seven years of construction at a time of economic austerity and when the church members efforts were strained by other building projects.
With its variant design elements, the Logan tabernacle is classically eclectic in its architectural styling. A rendering drawn prior to 1875 shows the original intention of combining Gothic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and perhaps other classical and revival features in the building. The present edifice is very much like the building depicted in the old rendering, The dark stone tabernacle is rectangular in plan, measuring 65 x 150 feet, The height to the top of the tower is 135 feet. The upper floor consists of one room and a vestry while the basement contains eight rooms. The interior is beautifully finished with the woodworking and seats being grained, the floors carpeted and the walls and ceilings frescoed with original designs. The tabernacle is used for stake conferences and other large gatherings and will comfortably seat 4,000 people, including seating in the gallery. The building cost has been estimated at $100,000.
The general form of the tabernacle follows the usual pattern for early Mormon meetinghouses — that of a simply gabled box with an engaged central tower in the front façade. To this form is added much relief and interest through varied detailing. Features include buttresses with stone of alternating colors, quoins of white stone at the building corners and around all the window and door bays, a molded cornice with full return across the front wall and butting into the tower; a vestry which extends outward from the tower and is capped with small, stone pinnacles; soaring windows with central mullions and segmented arches; a round window with the Star of David motif within on the tower; and a wooden lantern or steeple which I is ornately milled and topped with a golden dome and several finials. While these are the dominant features, there are many others that add to the rich quality of the design.
