Temple Factoids

A side-by-side look at two remarkable temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Salt Lake Temple with its six spires against a blue sky.

Salt Lake Temple

Location
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dedicated
April 6, 1893
Construction Time
40 years (1853–1893)
Height
210 feet (center east tower)
Exterior
Quartz monzonite granite quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon
Renovation
Closed December 2019 for seismic upgrades and interior restoration. Base isolators allow the building to move up to 10 feet in any direction during an earthquake. Open house scheduled April–October 2027.
The Washington D.C. Temple with its six gold-tipped spires rising above the trees.

Washington D.C. Temple

Location
Kensington, Maryland
Dedicated
November 19, 1974
Construction Time
6 years (1968–1974)
Height
288 feet (tallest temple at dedication)
Exterior
173,000 square feet of Alabama white marble, cut so thin in places that it is translucent from inside
Renovation
Closed March 2018 for a complete renovation of mechanical systems and interior finishes. Rededicated August 14, 2022 after a public open house attended by over 340,000 guests.

A Pattern of Preservation

Both temples share a common story: built through years of sacrifice, loved by generations, and carefully renewed to serve for many more years to come. The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years of pioneer labor to complete. The Washington D.C. Temple was the first built east of the Mississippi since Nauvoo. Each renovation reflects a commitment to preserving these sacred spaces while strengthening them for the future.