Striking original 11" x 14" albumen exhibition photograph of the iconic Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah, attributed to celebrated Union Pacific photographer Andrew J. Russell, captured during the early 1870s, shortly after the Tabernacle's completion in 1867. This rare oversized view, mounted on its original cream card stock, offers a commanding panoramic perspective of the Tabernacle from a slightly elevated vantage point, allowing a full appreciation of its elliptical domed roof, colonnaded base, and the surrounding Temple Square grounds during the final stages of landscaping and development.

Russell—best known for his sweeping views of the American West and his documentation of the transcontinental railroad—was one of the few photographers with access to both military and religious subjects during the Reconstruction era. This composition reflects his keen eye for architectural form and spatial balance. Visible in the foreground are orderly rows of young shade trees planted along a dirt avenue, while piles of stone and timber in the fenced enclosure to the right suggest the ongoing work and expansion within the Temple Square. In the background, the vast Salt Lake Valley stretches toward the western mountains, anchoring the structure in its newly settled landscape.

The verso bears contemporary pencil notations reading “ca. 1870 / MORMON TABERNACLE / ALBUMEN EXHIBIT – 4/10,” indicating this image was likely part of a limited series of mammoth prints produced for institutional display or public exhibition, consistent with Russell’s practice during this period. Minor handling wear, light toning, and corner softening to the original mount, but the image retains strong contrast and fine detail.

An important and rare large-format view of one of the most recognizable and symbolically charged landmarks in the American West—captured by one of the era’s most respected documentary photographers. A significant addition to any collection of Mormon history, Western Americana, or early American architectural photography.