PI-60 Building Stones of Downtown Salt Lake City, A Walking Tour

The McCornick Building in 1905 with its original eastern entrance still intact, was constructed of Kyune sandstone from the Colton Formation.
Photo courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society.

78 South Main Street

Built of Kyune sandstone and brick, this seven-story building was constructed between 1890 and 1893 for McCornick & Company.

Easy to quarry and containing seams that allowed it to be extracted in large-sized blocks, Kyune sandstone was used extensively in Salt Lake City as a building stone in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially for large buildings.

Today, most of the Kyune sandstone veneer on this building's lower two floors is covered by a new veneer. The smooth stone facade of the upper floors has weathered much better than the rusticated Kyune sandstone of the Salt Lake City and County Building (stop 22). The 1890 eastern entrance is gone, but you can still see beautifully carved flowers, leaves, and squirrels surrounding the remaining southern entrance.

Established in 1873 by William S. McCornick, McCornick & Company became the largest private bank between the Pacific Coast and the Missouri River. In his youth, William McCornick worked on his father's Canadian farm and then as a California ranch hand. He later became one of Utah's principal businessmen with interests in banking, mining, and ranching, and in railroad, telephone, sugar, and electricity companies. He was also the first president of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce and the Alta Club.

Return to the southeast corner of Main Street and 100 South. As you continue south down the eastern side of Main Street, you will see a variety of marble and granite veneers.

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