Utah's Marble Guardians

The current lions were sculpted by Ohio sculptor, Nick Fairplay and guard the East and the West entrances. The Capitol Preservation Board ordered the new sculptures once the old lions had deteriorated to a point where they could no longer be restored.

The original lions were molded in cement by Gavin Jack in 1915. Weather and children eroded the popular sculptures until Ralpahel Plescia restored them in 1977.

Two of the lions were put into place in April, 2008 on the East entrance. The other two will be placed in Summer of 2008 on the West entrance.

The lions have been named Forititude, Integrity, Honor and Patience. Fortitude and Integrity guard the East, Honor and Patience guard the West. In addition to the symbolism of the lion's names, the lions have been sculpted in different phases of life from cub to old age. Patience is the oldest lion and Fortitude is the youngest. The other two represent middle-age.

Additional sculptures and monuments on the grounds are the Vietnam Memorial monument, which commemorates the 388 Utahn's who died during that war; the Mormon Battalion monument which honors the 500 men who fought in the 1864 Mexican War; and the Massasoit statue.