View From the Lookout Tower

by John P. Pratt

We decided to climb up to see the view from the lookout tower of the Salt Lake City and County Building.

Salt Lake City and County Building
Click to enlarge.

The Lookout Platform

One day while we were university students, my best friend Brent and I were in downtown Salt Lake City walking by the City and County Building. We both looked at the impressive lookout platform at the very top of central tower and wondered what it would be like to gaze out over the city from such a high vantage point. This was before the building of any high building in the city, such as the the LDS Church Office Building.

We talked ourselves into at least making the attempt. We went inside and walked up the stairs to the highest full floor. We looked around for doors that said "Employees Only" or the like and just hoped one would be unlocked. Sure enough, we soon found one and slipped through it without anyone noticing, knowing that it was easier to get forgiveness than permission.

We started ascending the old wooden stairs and passed the giant clock. It was really amazing and had a clock face facing in all four directions all driven by one central mechanism. It looked to be a century old, with huge gears. We kept going up until we got to the platform. There was a trap door going to it, so when we got up to the platform there was barely room to stand while closing the door.

It was amazing and totally worth the effort. It was only about four feet in diameter, so it is barely big enough for two or three people. The view was of course awesome, but there was a very surprising feature. It felt like we were floating up in a balloon because we could look straight down at a sheer drop. It was like there was nothing under us! We stayed and enjoyed it for a long time and then made our descent without anyone having noticed us.

Now I think of that wonderful memory every time I see that building. I'm so glad for my friend Brent who helped get me out of my books and encouraged me to go on adventures like that! It was life changing for me.