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This adventure started with the belief that the First Security Bank Building was the tallest building in Ogden, which had a neat clock on it. So, that is how I originally started writing this up. However, I uncovered some additional information so I pivoted a little bit. So forgive me if it is a little fragmented.
The old First Security Bank Building is a neat tall building in Ogden. Many sources say it is the tallest building in Ogden with 13 floors. But I finally found a list that shows height and it is actually the 3rd tallest. It was recently acquired by Cache Valley Bank. Aside from it being an tall old building in Ogden it has a really neat old clock on it that Landis thought I would enjoy. So after our adventure at Union Station we decided to go check it out. Then of course I squirreled a little bit.
Quick Details:
Length: Depends on how much you explore we did about a block and back.
Trail Type: Get out and see.
Difficulty: DR1 Get out and see,
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: No. I’m not sure where the closest public one is.
Dogs? Dogs are allowed on public sidewalks, leashed.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
This is on the corner of 24th Street and Washington.
The Trail:
Fun mural as we make our way east on 24th Street (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
The Hampton Inn & Suites (PSP) We'll come back to this.
The First Security Building. It is 13 floors and 146 feet tall it is the 3rd tallest in Ogden. It is currently empty, but Cache Valley Bank is refurbishing it into an office building.
Almost every source I have found claims that this is the tallest building in Ogden. However none of them list any stats other than how many floors there are. After a lot of digging, I found one with measurements that puts it at 3rd. I wonder if the discrepancy might be the sign on top of it. The weather Station on the Walker Center Tower counts for it’s height. I would be willing to wager the sign here is taller than 37 feet (old and new). That is just my best guess as to why most sources say this is the tallest, here is one of the ones I was going to use (outside link).
The thermometer clock thingy. Landis tells me is used to rotate. It is not currently doing so, and it does not appear to be displaying the correct temperature either. I hope Cache Valley Bank plans to restore it.
Thermometer and clock.
This clock face is missing it’s hands.
With the supports.
Thermometer on the other side.
With the building.
The clock on the other side still has it’s hands. But again, is not showing the correct time. I assume the entire unit is powered off right now. But it is still super cool!
Corner.
The west face of the building.
Southwards I noticed Peery's Egyptian Theater, and I wanted to get a closer view of it so we started walking that way.
The southwest side of the First Security Bank.
The David Eccles Conference Center. Another Eccles I am not familiar with.
The Hampton Inn & Suites again. It is 4th tallest building in Ogden at 106 feet (PSP). You can see the First Security Building behind it.
None of these buildings would have made it on the Tallest Buildings of Salt Lake City list, as those are all over 200 feet high.
Heading down Washington Boulevard.
Starting to be able to see the new sign on top of the first security building.
The Egyptian Theater again.
Looking back at the bank.
The theater.
Again.
Interesting Spanish alien store. We did not go inside.
Ogden Eccles Conference Center. I love that they extended the Egyptian theme onto the sign.
Peery’s Egyptian Theater.
Again. Wow, it is an absolutely gorgeous theater!
Front windows.
The Marquee.
The box office.
Fun art.
Sadly the doors were locked so we couldn’t go in.
This building was completed in 1924 after the fiery demise of the Arlington Hotel. It was designed by architects Leslie S. Hodgson & Myrl A. McClenahan, of The architectural firm of Hodgson & McClenahan
That firm also designed Ogden Highschool and the Ogden City Municipal Building among other notable buildings.
Hodgson studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and worked for Richard K. A. Kletting (architect for the Utah State Capitol among other notable buildings in Utah).
The box office.
Ceiling above.
Fun pillar.
More details.
The front windows on the other side.
The theater closed in 1984 due to a heath code violation. It was given to Ogden City, then Weber County. It was completely restored, and eventually reopened in 1997.
The logo.
The Eccles Conference Center.
The other side of the marquee.
Again.
Again.
The Bigelow. We decided to head over to that.
First Security the other direction.
More detail on the theater.
The marquee again.
One of the fancy bus stops on the new Ogden Express bus line. It’s like the Temu version of light rail. LOL. Basically instead of building a Trax like rail line, they wasted money building a special bus lane. I mean, I guess it is better than nothing but wow. Maybe it's phase 1? Oh nope. They considered light rail, and chose the bus over it due to costs.
Theater Plaza.
Weird art.
The side of the theater.
Again.
The base of the info sign.
The Bigelow (formerly the Ben Lomond Hotel) opened in 1927. Notable for it Italian Renaissance Revival architecture. Designed and built by The architectural firm of Hodgson & McClenahan. The hotel was converted into the Bigelow Apartments in 2019. Which apparently is a nod to the original name. After local banker Archie P. Bigelow. It changed hands in 1933 and was renamed to the Ben Lomond. So that is kind of fun it just went back to it's original name.
At 12 floors and 177 feet tall it is the 2nd tallest building in Ogden. It was considered one of the 3 Grand Hotels in Utah. Along with the former Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) and the demolished Newhouse Hotel. It is now a residential apartment building.
Restaurant in the bottom. Bigelow Grill or Two-Bit Bistro? I am guessing Two-Bit Bistro is in the former Bigelow Grill, but I could be wrong. We didn’t go investigate. Two-Bit is the only one that comes up on the map.
It is a very pretty building.
Pretty awning with some lovely lion statues.
Pretty corner.
The top of the Ogden City Municipal Building. I wish we had wandered over there. It is the tallest building in Ogden at 183 feet and 12 floors. Also designed by the architectural firm of Hodgson & McClenahan. We will definitely have to come back to explore that a little more closely sometime.
Another neat building.
Historical sign.
“This statue was donated to the city of Ogden, Utah by Homart Co., a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co. In behalf of Newgate Mall, Ogden to bring to mind the City’s pioneering heritage.”
Oh! We can see the full Cache Valley Bank sign on the top of the First Security Bank Building. I am a little sad they replaced the old sign, but at least they did it in the same style. The old sign was for Wells Fargo. I wonder if it was saved and used elsewhere.
Image from 2020 borrowed from The Standard (outside link).
Portrait.
Fancy art on the bus stations.
Fancy address sign.
Up at the top it says Woodmansee since 1856. Wow.
Back to the weird alien store.
It looks like an old theater.
World Famous Night Crawler.
World Famous Ancient Alien Artifacts.
I actually kind of wish we had popped in. I love me some weird stuff! But, we were kind of pushing it with time again.
Peery’s Egyptian Theater again.
More old storefronts.
The theater again.
Empyre Barber Lounge.
You’re not ugly, bro. You just need a haircut. LOL
Not great shot of one of the neat old barber chairs they have on display. Dang.
Rushmer Bldg. That looks neat.
It looks like a theater too.
The Lab Arcade Bar. Sounds pretty similar to Quarters.
With a Ballet school above.
The Fist Security Building again.
The Hampton again. And I just realized there is a Wells Fargo right there! They could totally repurpose the old sign right in the same area.
Old brick under the stucco.
Neat old chapel.
Heading back (PSP). 24th Street is weird… but it has to go over the train yard so I guess this is the result.
The Ogden Transit Center. It is not very exciting looking.
Mountains.
Ogden City Municipal Building — 56 m (183 ft) · 12 floors
The Bigelow Hotel & Residences — 54 m (177 ft) · 12 floors
2404 Washington Boulevard — 45 m (146 ft) · 13 floors
Hampton Inn & Suites Ogden — 32 m (106 ft) · 8 floors
Fellowship Manor · 13 floors
Cereal Food Processors Grain Elevator · 10 floors
United States Forest Service Building · 8 floors
Cereal Food Processors Grain Mill · 8 floors
Courtyard by Marriott Ogden · 8 floors
1104 Country Hills Drive · 7 floors
Source (outside link). As I mentioned, numerous articles do cite it as the tallest. This is the only list I have found that includes how tall the building are.
That was a fun little mini adventure! I am glad we explored this area. It was not quite what we had planned to do, because as usual, I squirreled, but it was fun. I definitely want to come back and explore a little bit more. 9 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, it is paved and can just be quick get out and see’s. DR1.
Dogs are allowed on city sidewalks.
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