The first printing of the Deseret News occurred on June 15, 1850, just three years after Mormon pioneers began to settle in Utah. Since then, the paper has gone through different forms, from a weekly paper to a bi-weekly paper, a semi-weekly paper and a daily paper, but it still presses on.
Here's a look at some historic moments in Utah and the world captured by the Deseret News over the years.
June 15, 1850: First-ever issue of the Deseret News
The first-ever front page of the Deseret News featured a prospectus from the paper’s editorial board, as well as several stories, including on about a fire that “threatened for a time to reduce the famous city of San Francisco to a heap of smoking ruins.”
The prospectus from the Deseret News’ editorial board begins, “We propose to publish a small weekly sheet, as large as our local circumstances will permit, to be called ‘Deseret News,’ designed originally to record the passing events of our state, and in conexion, refer to the arts and sciences, embracing general education, medicine, law, diversity, domestic and political economy, and everything that may fall under our observation, which may tend to promote the best interest, welfare, pleasure and amusement of our fellow citizens.”
April 1865: Abraham Lincoln assassinated
The April 19, 1865 Deseret News reported on the April 14 shooting of President Abraham Lincoln.
The story begins: “The president and wife, with other friends, this evening visited Ford’s Theatre for the purpose of witnessing the performance of ‘Our American Cousins”’ . . .
”During the third act and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attracted attention but suggested nothing serious, until a man rushed to the front of the president’s box, waving a long dagger in his right hand, exclaiming, “Sic semper tyrannis” (death to tyrants).”
October 28, 1886: Statue of Liberty dedication
This October 1886 edition of the Deseret Evening News featured an article — located right next to the baking powder ad — heralding the unveiling and dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
April 5, 1893: Salt Lake Temple is completed
“The loving labor of 40 eventful years is finished,” declared this April 5, 1893 edition of the Deseret Evening News.
Construction on the Salt Lake Temple began on April 6, 1853, and the temple was dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff on April 6, 1893.
This temple-heavy newspaper traced the history of the temple’s construction and described the interior of the structure.
July 25, 1897: 50 years in the Salt Lake Valley
This illustrated cover of the Deseret News from 1897 celebrated 50 years since the Mormon pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley, and showed scenes from both the trip and the process of settling the territory, including covered wagons, Temple Square, plowing, mining and the Salt Lake City and County Building.
May 1, 1900: Winter Quarters mine disaster in Scofield
This May 1900 issue of the Deseret News reported on the Scofield mine disaster, which occurred on May 1, 1900, when an explosion ripped through mine No. 4, killing more than 200 men.
The mine disaster article shares above-the-fold billing with the case of Brigham H. Roberts, who was charged with unlawful cohabitation.
June 15, 1900: 50th anniversary of the Deseret News
On June 15, 1900, the Deseret News ran its regular edition of the evening news with nary a peep of the paper’s own anniversary — 50 years in print.
April 14, 1912: Titanic hits iceberg, sinks
This April 15, 1912, edition of the Deseret Evening News reflects the information reported worldwide after the Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean — that the ship was damaged but moving forward under her own steam.
”It is probably that all passengers of the Titanic are safe,” the initial report said.
More than 1,500 people were killed when the Titanic went down, and some 700 survived. The tragedy led to a new focus on lifeboat and lifejacket requirements.
Check out this archives.gov article for more information on the Titanic and the accident’s aftermath.
February 11, 1915: Moving to the new State Capitol
This February 11, 1915, edition of the Deseret Evening News shows photographs of the newly-completed State Capitol building. The Chamber of the House (top) and the Senate Chamber (bottom) were occupied by Utah leaders for the first time that day, although the building itself wasn’t dedicated until October 9, 1916.
National headlines stretching above these photographs show a world still grappling with the ongoing events of World War I.
April 6, 1917: United States enters World War I
Nearly three years after World War I began in Europe, the United States formally entered the war on the side of the Allies on April 6, 1917.
As this Deseret Evening News shows, the Germans were not happy with this news, while Britain and its allies were.
According to historytogo.utah.gov, some 21,000 Utahns saw military service during the war.
November 11, 1918: World War I officially ends
The November 11, 1918, Deseret News proclaimed, “Announcement is made that the German delegates signed the armistice terms at six o’clock (French time) Monday morning.
”Hostilities will end at 11 o’clock this morning.”
The front page includes pictures of the “members of the Allied war council who dictated terms to the enemy.” From left to right, top to bottom, these picture show U.S. General John J. Pershing, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premiere Georges Clemenceau, Edward M. House, Italy’s Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, Britain’s Douglas Haig, France’s Ferdinand Foch, Britain’s Eric Geddes, General Tasker Bliss, Admiral William S. Benson and Admiral William Sowden Sims.
January 1919: States ratify prohibition amendment
According to the January 16, 1919, issue of the Deseret News, Nebraska became the 36th state “to vote dry,” with the prohibition amendment set to go into effect one year from that date.
January 16, 1920: Prohibition goes into effect
A front-page story under the headline, “National prohibition goes into effect,” informed Deseret News readers that the ban on liquor would go into effect at midnight and did not include loopholes — if you imbibed alcoholic drinks, you would be penalized.
Prohibition was repealed in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment.
August 18, 1920: Women’s suffrage ratified by 2/3 of states
As this August 18, 1920, edition of the Deseret News proclaimed, Tennessee became the critical 36th state in the fight for women’s suffrage with the state’s ratification of the 19th Amendment.
April 22, 1925: Saltair fire
This 1925 issue of the Deseret News reports on a fire that swept through Saltair, the popular bathing resort located on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. The resort opened in 1893.
The fire originated in the Hippodrome, according to the article, and was fanned by gusting winds.
The resort was rebuilt and reopened after the fire, but after facing years of continuing struggles amidst a second fire, World War II and receding lake levels, it closed in 1958. The current Saltair was built in the 1990s after the earlier structure burned in another fire.
May 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris
On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, traveling from New York City to Paris and cementing his place (and that of his plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis,”) in history.
Much of the front page of this Saturday issue of the Deseret News was dedicated to the aviator and his voyage.
October 29, 1929: Black Tuesday
On October 29, 1929, Wall Street investors traded more than 16 million shares in a single day. The moment, captured here in the story in the far right column, became a flashpoint in the country’s slide into the Great Depression, which would last until World War II.
The story in the Deseret News was titled, “Stock exchange sets record as drop continues,” and proclaimed that the “crash is practically universal.”
September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, as seen in this Deseret News front page from that date. The event officially pulled France and Great Britain into the war two days later when those countries declared war against Germany.
September 3, 1939: Britain, France declare war against Germany
This September 2, 1939, paper reported that Great Britain’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had delayed a declaration of war against Germany until noon to give them time to respond to Britain’s demands, but that he saw no way out of the country’s entering what would become World War II.
Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
December 8, 1941: U.S. enters World War II
This December 8, 1941, paper ran the day after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where more than 2,000 men were killed.
An article near the bottom of the page discusses the declaration of an emergency in Utah by Governor Herbert Maw, and the announcement that defense laws passed by the 1941 Legislature were, as of that day, in effect.
May 8, 1945: Victory in Europe, WWII
May 8, 1945, was celebrated in the United States as VE — Victory in Europe — Day, but the fighting in World War II was still ongoing, as the headlines proclaim.
With the war over in Europe, America’s attention turned to the Pacific and the fight to defeat Japan.
August 6, 1945: Nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima
The August 6, 1945, Deseret News reported: “An atomic bomb, hailed as the most terrible destructive force in history and as the greatest achievement of organized science, has been loosed upon Japan.”
The photo, although difficult to see in the scan, shows a production area of the Hanford Engineer Works in Washington state, “where the new atomic bomb was developed.”
August 14, 1945: Japan surrenders
As this edition of the Deseret News reported, “Tokyo radio said today that allied terms for Japan’s surrender had been accepted by Emperor Hirohito — but more than 12 hours later Washington lacked official confirmation.
”The fighting went on in the Pacific.”
Eventually word came to Washington and Japan’s surrender was officially announced.
August 15, 1945: Celebration as World War II ends
This August 15 paper was printed the day after Japan’s surrender was announced to the world, bringing an unofficial end to World War II. The picture shows a party in Salt Lake City, while another photo placed on top of that first shows people holding a newspaper proclaiming, “War ends.”
The photo caption read, “When extras hit the streets yesterday shortly after 5 p.m. with the official news of Japan’s surrender, it was only a matter of seconds until downtown streets were jammed with horn-blowing autos and laughing, shouting pedestrians. Children scrambled for the ticker-tape which spiraled out of windows and grown-ups were joyous as they began a celebration which lasted far into the night.”
July 24, 1947: 100 years in the Salt Lake Valley
This July 24, 1947, cover of the Centennial Edition of the Deseret News celebrated 100 years since the Mormon pioneers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
June 15, 1950: Deseret News 100th anniversary
It may not be the most beautiful of historic scanning jobs, but on June 15, 1950, the Deseret News celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special illustration of some of the major events the paper had covered since its creation.
October 4, 1957: Sputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched its satellite Sputnik into orbit, with the news reported here in the October 5 edition of the Deseret News.
May 5, 1961: First American in space
”Man, what a ride!”
This May 5, 1961 paper pays tribute to astronaut Alan Shepard Jr., who rode the Freedom 7 spacecraft into history as the first American in space. Shepard returned to space 10 years later, where he played golf on the moon.
October 22, 1962: JFK addresses nation on Cuban missile crisis
On Monday, October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed the people of the United States on television, informing them that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear weapons in Cuba, and stating that, “It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.”
The Soviets agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba on Sunday, October 28.
August 28, 1963: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I have a dream’ speech
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is listed as one of the most important speeches in American history, but on the day it was given — August 28, 1963 — the Deseret News was looking a little closer to home, where 25 men were working underground in the Cane Creek mine near Moab when a gas explosion occurred. Eighteen of the men died; seven were rescued.
The speech in Washington was featured on the front page, but below the fold.
November 22, 1963: John F. Kennedy assassinated
This November 22, 1963, Deseret News extra proclaimed the news of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas, conveying the shock and grief of Utah’s citizens and leaders.
Kennedy’s assassination came just months after the president visited Utah.
April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr., assassinated
A few years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was also killed by an assassin’s bullet. The news of MLK’s assassination came during the LDS Church’s 138th Annual General Conference.
July 20, 1969: The moon landing
It was “America’s Shining Hour,” the Deseret News front page declared, as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took mankind’s first steps on the moon.
Calling them “moon pioneers,” the article in the paper hailed the “great leap for mankind” made by both astronauts as they stepped onto the moon and into the history books.
April 13, 1970: Apollo 13 explosion
”Hey, we’ve had a problem.”
This April 14, 1970, Deseret News focuses on the Apollo 13 spacecraft, which was rocked by an explosion in space, leading astronauts James Lovell Jr., Fred Haise and John “Jack” Swigert to abandon their trip to the moon and fight instead to return home in their crippled ship.
August 9, 1974: President Richard Nixon resigns
”Our long national nightmare is over,” this edition of the Deseret News quotes the new President Gerald Ford as saying after taking the oath of office after his predecessor resigned in disgrace.
On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon “took tearful leave of the White House and his devastated presidency,” giving up the office and returning home to California.
June 9, 1978: Priesthood extended to all worthy male LDS members
On June 9, 1978, the Deseret News published a statement from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint announcing that the priesthood would be extended to all worthy male members. The statement read:
”As we have witnessed the expansion of the work of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful that people of many nations have responded to the message of the restored gospel, and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers. This, in turn, has inspired us with a desire to extend to every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings which the gospel affords.
”Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.
”He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet the established standards for worthiness.
”We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel.
Sincerely yours,
Spencer W. Kimball
N. Eldon Tanner
Marion G. Romney
The First Presidency
January 28, 1986: Challenger disaster
On January 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle lifted off, only to explode 75 seconds later.
Commander Francis Scobee, pilot Michael Smith, mission specialists Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka and Judith Resnik and payload specialists Greg Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe were killed in the disaster.
April 26, 1986: Chernobyl accident
According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a sudden surge of power during an April 26, 1986, reactor systems test at the nuclear power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, led to a fire that released massive amounts of radioactive material. About 115,000 people were evacuated from the area, with another 220,000 people to follow in later years.
This 1986 Deseret News featured news about the accident on its front page, alongside a reminder to vote and a photo of the Salt Lake City and County Building’s tower under construction.
November 9, 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall
This November 10, 1989, Deseret News proclaimed the November 9 fall of the Berlin Wall, reporting that East Germany was permanently lifting travel restrictions on its citizens and sharing the news that West German workers would soon begin knocking new holes in the 28-year-old wall.
”Last night, the Germans were the happiest people in the world,” the 1989 article quoted West Berlin Mayor Walter Momper as saying.
June 16, 1995: Salt Lake City selected to host 2002 Olympics
”Finally, after three decades of trying, the Olympics are coming to Utah,” Deseret News reporter Lisa Riley Roche wrote in this June 16, 1995, paper.
Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee, with the city beating out Quebec, Canada; Sion, Switzerland and Ostersund, Sweden.
Scandal would follow soon after, with several members of the IOC resigning after it was found that they had accepted bribes from members of the Salt Lake Bid Committee. The scandal would lead to Mitt Romney’s taking over of the Games.
January 4, 1996: Utah’s centennial
This 1996 front page celebrates Utah’s 100th anniversary as part of the United States of America. It proclaims: “Betsy Ross, get out your flag and sew on another star . . . Halleluha! A state is what we are!
”With songs, dancing and a fusillade of gunfire that set downtown Salt Lake City’s concrete canyon echoing, Utahns heralded the state’s first hundred years.”
May 29, 1997: ‘The shot’ sends Jazz to NBA finals
The words will probably never be forgotten by all loyal Jazz fans: “John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA finals!”
With Stockton’s buzzer-beating 3-point shot, the Utah Jazz broke their 100-100 tie with the Houston Rockets, becoming the Western Conference Champions. The team would later head to Chicago to face Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The quest would end in heartbreak for the Jazz, but Stockton’s shot would live on.
August 11, 1999: F2 tornado strikes Salt Lake City
On August 11, 1999, an F2 tornado swept through downtown Salt Lake City, damaging the Delta Center, destroying a tent at the Outdoor Retailer Show, ripping off roofs, damaging the LDS Conference Center, tearing up trees and injuring 81 people. One person was killed when he was hit by flying debris, and at least 300 homes were damaged.
August 11, 2014, marked 15 years since the tornado. Here’s a look at the Deseret News’ coverage from that anniversary.
June 15, 2000: Deseret News 150th anniversary
June 15, 2000, marked 150 years in print for the Deseret News, with the event being commemorated on the front page of this anniversary edition.
February 8, 2002: Winter Olympics begin
The journey to the 2002 Winter Olympics began back in 1995, but came to fruition in February 2002 when the Games kicked off. Here’s a look a the front page of the Deseret News capturing the “hope and glory” of the Games’ opening ceremony.