The first people who lived by the Great Salt Lake
were Native Americans who hunted around it. They also grew a little
food. Sometimes they had to move because the water got too high or
there wasn't enough food. There are lots of places around the Great
Salt Lake that show where they lived.
Many explorers came to the Great Salt Lake Area.
The Great Salt Lake got its name because Bear Lake in the north was
called Sweet Lake so the people wanted to show the difference.
Captain Bonneville tried to call it by his name, but it did not
work.
The Mormons came to the Salt Lake valley in 1847 and used some of
the salt for their dinners. They worked hard and tried many things
on the lake, including raising cattle, oysters, getting oil, getting
bird doodoo, and so on. There were a few people who lived on
Antelope and Fremont islands.
Some people started some resorts around the Great Salt Lake. The first
one was started by Brigham Young's son, but he later moved it to
the area around Lagoon. The most famous resort was Saltair, which was
built in 1893.
The first railroad across the United States was finished north of the
Great Salt Lake in 1869. But the people wanted a shorter way to go so
they built a railroad bridge across the middle of the Great Salt Lake
in 1902. Then another bridge with rocks was built in 1959.
People have used the lake for many things. Many have caught brine
shrimp and used them to feed fish and shrimp. The salt and other
materials have been taken and used for fertilizer, rock salt, and
so on. Many people have liked to swim.
From 1982-1987, there was lots of rain and snow and the Great Salt
Lake grew in size. There were many floods. To learn more about them,
go to the next page
Today, many people still visit the Great Salt Lake or use the things
that come from it.
Floods
Great Salt Lake floods
Geology History
Funny Historical Facts
Back to the Great Salt Lake page
Two Spanish priests,
Fathers Dominguez and Escalante, heard about the Great Salt Lake, but
did not go by there. They did go through the Great Salt Lake desert
area in 1776. Jim Bridger saw the Great Salt Lake in 1824, but
thought it was part of an ocean. Other explorers included Captain
Bonneville in 1835, John Fremont in 1843-44, and Captain Howard
Stansbury in 1849-1850. They measured the Great Salt Lake and
drew maps of it.
It burned down a couple of times, but was very
popular with people. They could ride a roller coaster, swim, go on
paddle boats, and other things. It had big docks. Later, the
lake dried up some and many resorts left. Saltair was rebuilt, but
flooded in the 1980's. Now there is another one, but not as big
as before. 
The wood from the first bridge is being taken
and used for other things. 
Others have liked to sail
or to watch birds at one of the many places
around the lake.
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