Skip to main content

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

History of Provo & Brigham Young University
Image Not Available for History of Provo & Brigham Young University

History of Provo & Brigham Young University

Year1941
Classification painting
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions8'1" x 16'8"
Credits Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
  • Scenes from the mural:   1. upper left - Brighan Young University's first building - Old Lewis Hall - was destroyed by fire.   2. upper left - The church school then converted its cooperative mercantile store room to classroom uses, until a new building was erected. 3. upper left - Brigham Young University campus. 4. upper left - Modern Brigham Young University stages a nationally known posture parade, depicted here with Squaw Peak and "Y" mountain in the background. 5. lower left - In early Provo history, "honey dew" was found on the leaves of trees along the river.  The pioneers gathered and boiled the leaves to get a sugary substance like honey. 6. lower left - When the pioneers first settled in Provo they were asked by the Indians to swear by the sun not to drive them from their hunting grounds. 7. center - The Move.  Many early settlers "evacuated" Salt Lake City for Provo when news came that Johnston's Army was approaching Salt Lake. 8. top center - Timpanogas hikers pause by an Aspen Grove lunch spot. 9. top right - Mt. Timpanogas and Provo River are familiar elements of Provo life. 10. middle right - The woolen industry was one of the town's oldest. 11. middle right - Provo's iron industry saw an early start. 12. lower right - Well-attended schools of fish were soon found in nearby Utah Lake. 13. lower right - Jesse Knight names the first mine near Provo the Humbug because he didn't think it would amount to much.