Murray Downtown Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Murray Downtown Historic District is located in the historic city center of Murray
, Salt Lake County, Utah
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2006.
The historic district is significant for its association with the development, particularly economic and social, of the community from a rural outpost to an industrialized city with a remarkably urban
core in its commercial district. Murray is one of only a few towns in Utah and the only community in the Salt Lake Valley
, other than Salt Lake City, to have substantial mixed commercial/residential development with resident population living in the upper floors of commercial buildings. The population of Murray's urban center was remarkable for its integrated mix of Utah-born residents and recent immigrants attracted by the smelter industry. The tight urban streetscape along State Street between approximately 4800 South Street (formerly Murray Boulevard) and Vine Street is a distinctive reminder of the heyday of Murray's commercial importance in the south-central part of the valley. The district is also significant as an urban streetscape and for the architectural variety and quality of the individual buildings, three of which were individually listed on the National Register. Many of the buildings are particularly noteworthy as examples of the evolution of the modern Main Street, in Murray's case, State Street. Between the 1920s and 1950s, the storefronts of numerous buildings were updated to reflect the changes in America's architectural tastes. The contributing buildings represent Murray's major historic construction phases, and have good integrity for the historic period, which ranges from 1897 to approximately 1956. The commercial business district is a companion to the Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
, which abuts the business district on the east and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2005.
The district includes three buildings previously listed on the National Register of Historic
Places: the Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments
; the Iris Theater (Desert Star Theater
), Apartments, and Commercial Building; and the Murray Theater.
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
, Salt Lake County, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2006.
The historic district is significant for its association with the development, particularly economic and social, of the community from a rural outpost to an industrialized city with a remarkably urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
core in its commercial district. Murray is one of only a few towns in Utah and the only community in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
, other than Salt Lake City, to have substantial mixed commercial/residential development with resident population living in the upper floors of commercial buildings. The population of Murray's urban center was remarkable for its integrated mix of Utah-born residents and recent immigrants attracted by the smelter industry. The tight urban streetscape along State Street between approximately 4800 South Street (formerly Murray Boulevard) and Vine Street is a distinctive reminder of the heyday of Murray's commercial importance in the south-central part of the valley. The district is also significant as an urban streetscape and for the architectural variety and quality of the individual buildings, three of which were individually listed on the National Register. Many of the buildings are particularly noteworthy as examples of the evolution of the modern Main Street, in Murray's case, State Street. Between the 1920s and 1950s, the storefronts of numerous buildings were updated to reflect the changes in America's architectural tastes. The contributing buildings represent Murray's major historic construction phases, and have good integrity for the historic period, which ranges from 1897 to approximately 1956. The commercial business district is a companion to the Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
The Murray Downtown Residential Historic District is the best representative area of the residential settlement and development of the city of Murray, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005...
, which abuts the business district on the east and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2005.
The district includes three buildings previously listed on the National Register of Historic
Places: the Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments
Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments
The Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments, built in 1915, is a two-story brick, two part commercial block that is listed in National Register of Historic Places. The building is significant for its role in the early urbanization of Murray, Utah...
; the Iris Theater (Desert Star Theater
Desert Star Theater
Desert Star Theater is a dinner theater establishment in Murray, Utah. It started out as a small theater called the Gem, which showed silent movies with a piano for music. It was later closed down and demolished, but rebuilt and expanded into the Iris Theater by owner Tony Duvall...
), Apartments, and Commercial Building; and the Murray Theater.