Fillmore is a small community located in central Utah about half way between Salt Lake City and St. George. Visiting the community today, it is difficult to believe that at one time Fillmore was a hub of activity and the capital of Utah Territory.
Utah Territory was originally much larger than the current State of Utah, so Territorial Governor Brigham Young selected a site in the approximate center of the Territory for construction of a new fort and capitol building. Construction of Fillmore Fort started in 1851 and construction of the capitol building started in 1852.
The design of the capitol building was planned as a massive structure with four three-story wings connected to a Moorish dome at the center. However, only the South Wing of the Capitol Building was ever constructed because other states were created or expanded from lands that were originally part of Utah Territory. Also, Federal funding for construction of the Capitol building ceased and about this same time the Fillmore area geography was found not to be suitable for increased settlement. Therefore, in 1858 the Territorial Capital of Utah was moved to the much larger population center of Salt Lake City.
After the Capital of Utah was moved to Salt Lake City, the Fillmore building was used as a court house, county headquarters, religious meeting house, school, dance hall, theater, jail, and civic center. By the turn of the century the Old Territorial Capitol Building in Fillmore had deteriorated and was going to be demolished, when the Daughters of Utah Pioneers proposed that the Old Statehouse be restored as a museum. The State of Utah agreed to preserve the building and it opened as a museum in 1930. In 1957 the building and surrounding grounds became a Utah State Park.
An 1867 one-room rock schoolhouse and two pioneer log cabins are also located on the Territorial Capitol Building grounds.
The old Fillmore Fort has been completely demolished and there are no remaining ruins to view. However, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers have constructed a monument at the corner of Main and Center Streets, which is the approximate southwest corner of where the Fort was located.
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers have also constructed a monument at the northeast corner of the City Park to commemorate Fillmore's Adobe Church, which was constructed in 1854. The Church was located within the Fort and was also used as a school until 1900. Control of the building was transferred to the Relief Society until 1915 and then the building was sold and later demolished.
Also located on the park site is a log cabin (not currently open) that contains historic artifacts. The City has plans to renovate the structure and reopen the cabin as a small museum.
Just to the south of the park is an "Art Wood" display, which a local artist has constructed on a vacant lot adjacent to his home. The "Art Wood" sculptures were made by assembling naturally occurring pieces of wood, with detailed painting added to some of the pieces. There is no fee to tour Art Wood display.
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