REXBURG TABERNACLE CELEBRATES 105 YEARS SINCE

GROUNDBREAKING
by Kathryn Hyer
The Rexburg Tabernacle, a local building listed on the National Register for
Historic Places, will celebrate 105 years since the groundbreaking of the
building in 1911 this upcoming July.
Authorization to build the tabernacle came in 1911 after it was decided that
a larger meeting place was needed to sustain the growing Church
membership in the area, according to Snake River Echoes, an informational
booklet put out by the Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society.
1883 marked the first year that settlers came to what is now modern day
Rexburg. The Spring of 1883 saw large groups of Saints move into the
Rexburg area, and by the time Idaho was ready for statehood in 1890, there
were 3,681 Church members living in the Rexburg area, according to the
booklet.
After a year and a half of construction, the tabernacle was dedicated on
January 7, 1912 by President Joseph F. Smith
I think calling it a gem would be an appropriate term, said Claude Tuckett,
a native of St. Anthony and a resident of Rexburg for 50 years. Theyve kept
it a beautiful rock building. You dont see many of them anymore.
The original cost of the tabernacle was $29,000 and was raised completely
by community members, who also contributed their own time to help with
labor, according to the booklet.
President Smith said he was surprised when he heard it was to be built,
surprised when he heard it was built without church aid, surprised when he
heard it was paid for, and again surprised when much of the $3,000
appropriated by the church seating had been returned, said Warren
Widdison, a long time resident of Rexburg who now resides in Nampa, Idaho.
The tabernacle was the only building in the area that had a baptismal font,
which was added in 1930, according to the booklet.
It was indeed an improvement over cutting a hole in the ice on the river
said Widdison.
As Church membership increased into the 1970s, new stake centers were
built nearby, lessening a need for the tabernacle. The tabernacle was listed
on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, before being sold to the

City of Rexburg in 1978 following the Teton Dam flood, which had ruined the
basement of the building.
Local high schools used the Tabernacle as a graduation venue, the first being
in 1930 with a graduating class of 81. After 1975, graduation
commencements were moved to the Ricks campus.
The tabernacle has been a central gathering place for numerous
entertainment and activities throughout the years. It was home base for the
popular Gold and Green Balls, and has hosted musical guests such as the
U.S. Air Force Band and famous Mexican trumpeter Rafael Mendez.
When a dedicated Church building is sold to a government body, the building
is no longer deemed as a dedicated building, therefore allowing it to be
used as a civic center for the community, rather than a stake center.
As a civic center, the Tabernacle continues to host many community events
that appeal to audiences of all ages. One of their larger events happened on
February 27, when electronic pop folk music group, The National Parks
came and performed.
Before construction of the Kirkham Auditorium, musical performances by
students on the Ricks campus were all held at the Tabernacle, which was
and is continually known for its excellent acoustics.
Its just been grand ol building. None of us would ever want to see it torn
down, said Tuckett.
Both the Rexburg Historical Society and the Teton Flood Museum are located
at the north entrance of the Tabernacle, and are free and open to the public.
As the community approaches the 105th anniversary of the groundbreaking
of the Tabernacle, there is no news yet as to any festivities that may take
place, according to Louis Clements, President of the Rexburg Historical
Society.
Its a treasure for our city, said Tuckett.