in Places & People

Fascinating Vintage Photos of Salt Lake City in the 1940s

3.9k Views 6 Comments

In the 1940s, Salt Lake City was developed rapidly and the population also grew almost seven percent. The last streetcar line was discontinued in 1941 and during World War II, the trolly buses were stopped. The downtown streets were a lot busier than today, but there were fewer cars than today. The Crystal Palace at South Temple and 200 East was the first super grocery store to open downtown. The Bamberger train depot stood where Symphony Hall now is.

During World War II, several military installations were established in Salt Lake City. War industries and military installations revitalized the economy. Workers and soldiers spent their money in the city’s restaurants, shops, ballrooms, and theaters. At the end of World War II, there were two full days of merrymaking and dancing in Salt Lake City.

Here below are some stunning vintage photos that show what Salt Lake City looked like in the 1940s.

#3 People laying on the seashore, Salt Lake City, June 1948

People laying on the seashore, Salt Lake City, June 1948

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#4 Antimony school children visit Salt Lake City, 1948.

Antimony school children visit Salt Lake City, 1948.

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#5 Allen with husband George Burns went on a whistle-stop tour of the western U.S. In Salt Lake City, 1940.

Allen with husband George Burns went on a whistle-stop tour of the western U.S. In Salt Lake City, 1940.

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 Sign that says ‘Salt Content 24% Do Not Dive Keep Water Out Of Eyes, Nose And Throat’ at the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Sign that says 'Salt Content 24% Do Not Dive Keep Water Out Of Eyes, Nose And Throat' at the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#7 People walking on the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

People walking on the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#10 Woman checking the souvenirs at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Woman checking the souvenirs at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#11 Antimony School Kids Visit Salt Lake City, May 1948.

Antimony School Kids Visit Salt Lake City, May 1948.

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#12 Navy men standing in front of the Pullman train that was just released to the military from civilian run.

Navy men standing in front of the Pullman train that was just released to the military from civilian run.

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 Radio announcer Jean Ruth Hay holding an alarm clock while lying on the bed, Salt Lake City, 1942.

Radio announcer Jean Ruth Hay holding an alarm clock while lying on the bed, Salt Lake City, 1942.

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#16 Woman touching Salt Flats at the Great Salt Lake, June 1948.

Woman touching Salt Flats at the Great Salt Lake, June 1948.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#17 Car driving from Omaha Nebraska to Salt Lake City Utah on Highway 30.

Car driving from Omaha Nebraska to Salt Lake City Utah on Highway 30.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#18 Family driving from Omaha, Nebraska to Salt Lake City, 1948.

Family driving from Omaha, Nebraska to Salt Lake City, 1948.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#19 A boy sleeping while waiting for the bus to arrive in the depot, Salt Lake City, 1945.

A boy sleeping while waiting for the bus to arrive in the depot, Salt Lake City, 1945.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#20 A WAC group preparing to travel on an old tourist Pullman without air conditioning.

A WAC group preparing to travel on an old tourist Pullman without air conditioning.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#21 A crowd of people boarding a bus at the station in Salt Lake City, 1945.

A crowd of people boarding a bus at the station in Salt Lake City, 1945.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#22 Passengers exiting the airplane after landing in Salt Lake City, 1945.

Passengers exiting the airplane after landing in Salt Lake City, 1945.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#23 Employees working in a busy freight office in Salt Lake City, 1945.

Employees working in a busy freight office in Salt Lake City, 1945.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#24 Men in barracks getting ready, Salt Lake City, 1942.

Men in barracks getting ready, Salt Lake City, 1942.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#25 Brigham Young’s Gabled House, Salt Lake City, 1940s.

Brigham Young's Gabled House, Salt Lake City, 1940s.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#26 Mountains at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Mountains at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#27 Water turbine at Great Salk Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Water turbine at Great Salk Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#28 The Mormon temple (right) and tabernacle in Salt Lake City, 1949.

The Mormon temple (right) and tabernacle in Salt Lake City, 1949.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#29 Linda Darnell in Salt Lake City for the shooting of ‘Brigham Young’ in 1940.

Linda Darnell in Salt Lake City for the shooting of 'Brigham Young' in 1940.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#30 Pylon standing beside the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Pylon standing beside the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#31 Contest board stand on the ground, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Contest board stand on the ground, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#32 Dump trucks transporting sands of the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Dump trucks transporting sands of the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#33 Man reading a notice at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

Man reading a notice at Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, June 1948.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#34 Jerry Stewart of Salt lake city reads a sign announcing the construction of a new multi million dollar refinery which will process crude oil production of Colorado’s rich Rangely oil field

Jerry Stewart of Salt lake city reads a sign announcing the construction of a new multi million dollar refinery which will process crude oil production of Colorado's rich Rangely oil field

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

6 Comments