Stretching out before us stands the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center. It’s more commonly known as the Salt Palace. But did you know that the name has been used by two other venues in Salt Lake City before this one?
The current Salt Palace opened in February 1996. Its construction took two years. This Salt Palace served as the Main Media Center during the 2002 Winter Olympics. It hosts regular conventions like FanX and RootsTech.
Before this building, there were two other Salt Palaces. The original Salt Palace was built in 1899. Richard K.A. Kletting designed it. John Franklin Heath owned it. It stood on 900 South between State Street and Main Street. This first Salt Palace was a frame structure. Large pieces of rock salt covered it. That’s where it got its name. Hundreds of light bulbs lit up its large dome at night. It held a theater and was the centerpiece of an amusement park. The park featured a dance hall, a bandstand and a bicycle racing track. Sadly, a fire destroyed it and parts of the park on August 29, 1910.
The second Salt Palace was an arena. It was in use from 1969 to 1994. It hosted home games for the Utah Stars and Utah Jazz. The Salt Lake Golden Eagles also played ice hockey there. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Tour sold out in a record 1 hour and 20 minutes. But a 1991 AC/DC concert resulted in tragedy. Three people died and many were injured. The audience rushed the stage. This second Salt Palace was demolished in 1994.
Ground broke for this current Salt Palace on April 27, 1994. It stands on the site of the demolished arena. The convention center boasts 515000 square feet of exhibit space. There are also 164000 square feet of meeting space including a grand ballroom. It also has 66 meeting rooms.
In 2007, the Salt Lake County Council changed the name. It became the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center. This honored Rampton, whom they called the “founding father” of Salt Lake’s convention and tourism business.
Architectural enthusiasts might appreciate its design. It partially uses hollow structural steel in exposed applications. The entrance towers and snowflake chandeliers create a striking visual. The five-story main concourse makes it an architectural showpiece.
Notably, a 1.65 MW solar array was completed on the roof in 2012. At the time, it was the largest solar array in Utah. It covers 3.85 acres. It’s expected to provide 17% of the building’s electricity. The Salt Palace continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the needs of Salt Lake City and its visitors.