University of Utah

The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U) was established by Mormon leader Brigham Young. Initially named "University of Deseret" in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 28, 1850, the school was closed two years later for financial reasons. It reopened as a commercial school in 1867 in the old Council House in what is now downtown Salt Lake City under the direction of Elder David O. Calder, a prominent Salt Lake City businessman and associate of Mormon prophet Brigham Young. The University was renamed University of Utah in 1894 and classes were first held on the present campus approximately two miles directly east of downtown Salt Lake City in 1900.

Campus history

The present campus is located on the grounds of the former Fort Douglas, previously Camp Douglas. Camp Douglas was established in 1862 in order to protect the Overland Trail and was garrisoned by the Third California Infantry of volunteers. Troops from the camp were responsible for the Bear Creek Massacre that killed upwards of 250 Shoshone near Preston, Idaho in 1862. In 1866 regular army troops replaced the volunteers and in 1875 the camp was rebuilt with more substantial buildings and renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was the base for several campaigns against Indians in the 1870s. Black troops arrived in 1896 and two years later were shipped off to the Spanish American War. During World War I the fort was used as an internment camp for enemy aliens. Fear of Japanese attack during World War II caused the 9th Corps to move its headquarters from San Francisco to Fort Douglas. Later it once again was used to house prisoners of war. It finally closed on October 26, 1991. The Fort Douglas Military Museum exists to preserve and illuminate the past of this military installation, a National Historic Landmark.

Related Topics:
1862 - Overland Trail - Bear Creek Massacre - Shoshone - Preston, Idaho - 1866 - 1875 - 1870s - Black - 1896 - Spanish American War - World War I - Internment camp - Japanese - World War II - San Francisco - Prisoners of war - October 26 - 1991 - Fort Douglas Military Museum - National Historic Landmark

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