Foothill Cultural District's Diverse Attractions

Utah Office of Tourism staff members were invited to tour the Foothill Cultural District in Salt Lake City, UT. Being a Salt Lake City resident and a person who has visited some of these sites in the past, this tour was surprisingly interesting, enjoyable, and downright entertaining. My previous visits to some of these places were mostly brief, on different days, and years apart. To visit all of these places on one day is a much different experience. It opened my eyes to our great attractions.

The Hogle Zoo’s diverse array of wildlife from all over the world includes over 1,000 animals. The area’s rich and interesting history is highlighted at This is the Place Heritage Park and Fort Douglas Military Museum. The Olympic Cauldron Park commemorates the XIX Olympic Games with a photo gallery and a film that chronicles the games from the opening to closing ceremonies. Red Butte Gardens houses a dazzling color spectrum with its many flowers, indoor and outdoor gardens, intoxicating fragrance wafting on the air, and stunning views of the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountains. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts has an extensive collection, including 17,000 pieces and spanning more than 5,000 years.

The world-class Museum of Natural History, currently under construction, is scheduled to replace the existing museum in early 2011. The Museum of Natural History features a LARGE collection of dinosaur fossils, an exhibit called " Range Creek: An Anthropology of Place", which sheds light on the Fremont Tribe who lived in Range Creek Canyon (remote canyon in Eastern Utah) from 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D, and much more.

For more information on the Foothill Cultural District, discounts, information on the attractions, photo tours, and travel planning, go to: www.foothillcd.com