In 1850,
amid rugged peaks and untamed valleys, our ascent began. Territorial leaders founded one of the American West's first universities—the University of Deseret, later renamed the University of Utah—in a landscape where survival itself was still uncertain.Inspired by the stunning Wasatch Mountains, we've continued climbing toward new heights for 175 years.
One of the earliest aerial photographs of the University of Utah campus, circa 1920
Julia Ives Pack Home, where the first classes of Deseret University were held in 1850
John R. Park, president of the University of Utah from 1869 to 1892
What began with 25 students in a modest pioneer home has ascended to the ranks of the world's great universities, an institution that transforms lives, enriches communities, and revolutionizes everything from computer graphics to cancer treatment.
The raw ambition that drove those first educators still pulses through our classrooms, laboratories, and clinics.
The Warnock Engineering Building, named after the University of Utah alumnus, computer graphics pioneer and co-founder of Adobe
Founded in 1995 by Jon M. Huntsman Sr. and Karen Huntsman, the Huntsman Cancer Institute embarked on a journey to redefine cancer care
We're not just climbing mountains—we're moving them with the kind of determination that turned a desert into a thriving metropolis.
Our geneticists are unlocking the secrets of life itself, our engineers are helping patients walk again, and our scholars and artists are pushing the boundaries of human understanding and expression.
The Utah Bionic Leg, developed by U of U Associate Professor Tommaso Lenzi and his team in the HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering
Every breakthrough we make, every life we transform, every curious mind we inspire is another peak summited, another horizon revealed.
Here's to the next 175 years of daring to dream bigger and climb higher. The best views are still to come.
Images provided by Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah; Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah; Dan Hixson and the HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering, John and Marcia Price College of Engineering
One of the earliest aerial photographs of the University of Utah campus, circa 1920
Julia Ives Pack Home, where the first classes of Deseret University were held in 1850
John R. Park, president of the University of Utah from 1869 to 1892
The Warnock Engineering Building, named after the University of Utah alumnus, computer graphics pioneer and co-founder of Adobe
Founded in 1995 by Jon M. Huntsman Sr. and Karen Huntsman, the Huntsman Cancer Institute embarked on a journey to redefine cancer care
The Utah Bionic Leg, developed by U of U Associate Professor Tommaso Lenzi and his team in the HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering
