Ogden town was known as a major passenger railroad junction as it was the closest city to the Golden Spike location, where the First Transcontinental Railroad was joined in 1869. Today it’s not a railroad mecca anymore but it’s still a very unique and appealing town with not only a lot of places to eat or stay, or coffee shops but also baggage of history, like the baggage of passengers that came to Ogden Union Station at its best days when it was connecting the whole continent.
Landmarks
1. Union Station
Union Station, also known as Ogden Union Station is the most popular landmark in the city. Formerly the junction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads, it’s no longer a railway hub, but the building remains a cultural hub of the town connecting not the railroads but generations.
Currently, it’s transformed into a museum, actually a hub for 5 different museums and an art gallery for local and regional artists. It houses:
- Utah State Railroad Museum
- Spencer S. Eccles Rail Center
- the John M. Browning Firearms Museum
- Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
- Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum
Utah State Railroad Museum
Inside the Utah State Railroad Museum, you can see the photo of the original Romanesque-style building that served as both station and a hotel, but in 1923, a fire that began in a hotel room destroyed the station’s interior. In 1924 the construction of the current building in Italian Renaissance style was completed and it continued to serve as a railroad station and was transformed into the museum only in 1978. I personally liked more the original building.
You can also see there huge railroad diorama with operating small railroad models, old schedule signs from the original Union Station, and many other historical things. As a fan of railroad models, I was excited like a kid!
Spencer S. Eccles Rail Center
As for the Spencer Rail Center, one of the interesting cars is the 2002 Winter Olympics Cauldron Car. The Specially designed flatcar that was used by Union Pacific to transport the Olympic flame as part of the 2002 Winter Olympics torch relay is displayed at the museum, UP donated the car to the museum after the conclusion of the Olympic games.
John M. Browning Firearms Museum
John Browning was born in Ogden and was working there for many years, designing and creating new weapons like rifles and shotguns. So, there are no surprises to see the museum dedicated to him and his family business in his hometown. You can see many examples of different firearms created by the Browning family there and even check out their workshop.
Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is only one room space that has a small and cute exhibition dedicated to the Ogden Pioneer Day celebration. There’re some cowboy’s and cowgirl’s clothes, saddles, old posters, and some other stuff. The museum includes a research center that contains photographs and histories, documenting Utah’s Western culture and its people
Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum
Small but “like new” collection of prewar automobiles. Collection was started by Matt and Barbara Browning in 1971 and was rotationally displayed in car museum at Union Station. After they passed away nine cars were donated to city of Ogden to be displayed in museum. They are includes: 1929 Graham Paige (first row in the middle), 1930 Packard (first row left), amazing 1930 Cadillac (second row left) with V16 engine and 100 mph top speed, and more. Other cars were donated by Max Kennedy (1937 Packard two-door coupe, first row right) and museum volunteers Ed and Louise Cooper. Also museum has different car related artifacts such a old pump station (second row right). Collection definitely worth to be checked out, for car lovers it is must!
2. 25th Street
The history of 25th Street began with the opening of Union Station, many hotels and restaurants were built there to accommodate depot passengers. Nowadays it keeps featuring restaurants, art galleries, retail shops, and hosts outdoor community events such as a farmers’ market and car shows. You can see the historical posters all the length of the street, telling stories from the 19th and 20th centuries. For many years it has become Ogden’s trademark and favorite attraction for visitors and tourists. At the beginning of the 20th-century influence on the 25th street of Japanese culture spread by Japanese immigrants was pretty significant. Some signs of that were preserved and can still be seen hundred years later.
All along 25th Street, you can catch a sight of the very colorful, brightly painted herd! That is one of the largest public art projects in Utah, called the “Trail to Pioneer Days” More than 60 full-size fiberglass horses designed and painted by the area’s finest artists are on display in Ogden’s downtown. Some illustrate the nature of that area, some – history. I loved the horse that was combined with Ogden’s citizens’ faces.
Another noticeable art project that also shows the unique atmosphere of Ogden is small metal statues of children. Some of them are funny like exciting kids in the sled but some bring a more thoughtful mood.
3. Peery’s Egyptian Theater
One of dozen survived Egyptian theme theaters in US. Originally built in 1927 using solid poured concrete construction method. It was so strong that easily handle 70,000 lbs of gravel on top of the roof during final building test. All that measurement was later used in advertisement to prove as “safe place for Kiddies”. After 1997 renovation theater served community not just as “movie palace” but as concert venue and performing house, especially after Wurlitzer pipe organ was returned to the original spot from a storage.
3. Hill Aerospace Museum
Very close to the town, Hill Aerospace Museum is located on approximately 30 acres of the northwest corner of Hill Air Force Base, five miles south of Ogden. It has more than 70 aircraft on display in two inside galleries and outside air park. Admission is free, so it’s very nice to make a short stop there and walk between gigantic airships!
