Granite Mountain Vault
NEWS RELEASE VNR
Contact: Michael Purdy
Phone Number: 801.240.2363
TRAX
THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING SALT LAKE CITY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR WORLD-CLASS SKIING AND BREATHTAKING NATURAL BEAUTY. THEY ARE ALSO HOME TO A LESSER-KNOWN TREASURE — A MAN-MADE VAULT BUILT BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
Sound on Tape: Richard E. Turley Jr./Managing Director/Family and Church History Department
"It's a gigantic warehouse that houses the negatives, the masters for the film we circulate around the world."
TRAX
THE VAULT CONTAINS THE RECORDS OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF HUMANITY COLLECTED FROM MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THE RECORDS HAVE BEEN COPIED ONTO MORE THAN TWO MILLION ROLLS OF MICROFILM.
Sound on Tape: Richard E. Turley Jr.
"For that purpose we need to protect it both in a secure facility and in a facility that has the temperature and humidity controlled so the microfilm itself will last for the longest period of time."
TRAX
CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1960 — BLASTING TUNNELS NEARLY 700 FEET INTO THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN. THE ROCK WALLS PROVIDE A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE OF 60 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 30 PERCENT HUMIDITY.
Sound on Tape: David Rencher/Director/Family History Library
"From an archival standpoint, it's the best possible climate to preserve microfilm materials."
TRAX
COPIES OF THE MICROFILM ARE PRODUCED AT THE VAULT AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY IN SALT LAKE CITY, AS WELL AS TO 3,500 FAMILY HISTORY CENTERS AROUND THE WORLD, MAKING THE COLLECTION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE INTERESTED IN TRACING THEIR FAMILY ROOTS.
Sound on Tape: David Rencher
"The Granite Mountain Record Vault is a central component to this whole system. It's what makes everything else tick. The fact that we can go to this well on a continual basis and draw from it copies of these records to distribute throughout the world makes everything else work."
TRAX
THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE LIKE IT. AND FOR GENEALOGISTS AROUND THE WORLD IT IS PRICELESS.
Sound on Tape: David Rencher
"The value of that facility is immeasurable because of its content, because of the diversity of its collection. . . . I don't think you could put a price tag on that collection today."
