If you’ve never heard of Atlas Obscura, it’s an online collection of some of the most curious, peculiar, and downright weird sites worldwide. No surprise, but we have a fair amount of oddities in our own backyard. Here’s a guide to the best Atlas Obscura spots in Salt Lake City — right in time for Halloween.
🔼 Summum Pyramid
In 1975, Claude Corky Nowell (later known as Summum Bonum Amon Ra or Corky Ra) founded the Summum religion after a close encounter with intelligent beings he called “Summa individuals.” Summum is a blend of science fiction and Egyptian polytheism.
The church practices modern mummification, believing it aids in reincarnation and future cloning. The Summum pyramid is their main hub for teachings, meditation, and rituals. It’s open to the public on Wednesday evenings by appointment.
Summum is also the reason Forty Three Bakery can’t get a liquor license, per Utah liquor laws.
🪦 Victim of the Beast
The tombstone of Lilly E. Gray in the Salt Lake City Cemetery reads “Victim of the Beast 666.” According to the Utah State Historical Society, Edith “Lilly” Lillian Gray died from natural causes at age 77. But her second husband Elmer Gray (who claimed five Democratic officials kidnapped him) attributed her death from the “Beast 666” to the government. Lilly’s family, who is said to have disliked Elmer, “lovingly maintains her grave,” according to Atlas Obscura. He died in 1964 and was buried far away from her.
📬 USPS Remote Encoding Facility
This United States Postal Service center is the last of its kind in the country, where postal workers hand-sort through mail to decipher poorly written addresses. It operates 24/7 and they process 5 MILLION pieces of mail a day. Unfortunately, the center is closed to the public.
🪨 Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Visiting Gilgal Garden feels like a Salt Lake City rite of passage. One of my favorite details about the garden is that it’s located across the back parking lot of Chuck-a-Rama. Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. created the garden in the mid-20th century. It features 12 sculptures and over 70 stones inscribed with Mormon scriptures, poems, and literary texts. Visits are free daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
