Ogden's Public Art Scene
The term “public art” typically conjures images of large, abstract sculptures in heavily trafficked parks and plazas. Chicago’s Cloud Gate, affectionately known as “The Bean,” or New York City’s Washington Arch are examples of iconic public art.
While Ogden has a sizable collection of public sculptures in prominent locations, some of the city’s public art gems require a keen eye and a little inside information . . . like this blog, for example . . . to discover.
Let’s start with the high points . . . the obvious pieces of art that need to be checked off any art lover’s list on a trip to Ogden. There are a few pieces around the area that function as landmarks. You’ll hear them brought up as meeting places or anchor points.
If you’re around Ogden on the first Friday of the month, it’s pretty hard to avoid its art scene. The First Friday Art Stroll features extended hours at most galleries and special exhibits inside many of Historic 25th Street’s shops and restaurants. During more seasonable months, the First Friday Art Stroll spill onto the streets with activities for kids, busking local musicians, ephemeral and performance art exhibitions and more. During the other 29 or 30 days of the month, there are plenty of places to engage with public art.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/ogden_arch_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=1b5adf75525bc89708d956c98f9d6b83 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/ogden_arch_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=0a279dbc753d86831044cc1694d601c2 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/ogden_arch_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=19ccb6fef4be07b64ae0413232eb746d 720w)
The iconic Ogden Arch, located where the Ogden River flows under Washington Blvd., is probably primary among these and is most often used as a point of reference. When directing a newcomer any point north of downtown, you’ll often hear, “It’s by the big, Ogden Arch,” or “Go X number of blocks north of the arch.” But more than being just a welcome sign to the downtown area, this steel grid structure and its neon lights have transcended into the realm of art.
The Ogden Arch was built in 1936. At that point, the lettering on the south side of the sign read "It Pays to Live in Ogden, America's Fastest Growing City." On the north side, it read "We Welcome You to Ogden, Pioneer Days Week, July 24." In 1939, the south side was changed to "Utah's Fastest Growing City." Then, in 1952, it was changed to "Ogden, Home of Weber College." In 1959, the school became a state college and the sign was changed to "Home of Weber State College." In 1992, the sign was moved 30 feet to the north and the wording was changed to "Home of Weber State University.”
Day or night, a quick selfie near the Ogden Arch is the perfect way to start your Instagram Story and let everyone know you’re in Ogden.
A one-block stroll west along the Ogden River Parkway will land you at Ogden’s High Adventure Park. This gathering/play space supports understanding of the regional water cycle, and encourages environmental stewardship. The “River Cycle” sculpture was created as part of a project to restore a degraded urban stretch of the Ogden River. A water play table made from local stone is carved with interconnecting river channels and images of local riparian species. A hand cranked pump allows children to release water into the channels. The metal sculpture atop the “water table” is crowned with metal artwork representing a flock of birds in flight.” The shadow of the birds shifts with the sun’s angle throughout the year, coalescing into a snowflake displayed on a flat, stone slab on the winter solstice – symbolizing the beginning of the annual water cycle in the snowpack of the Wasatch Mountains.
Hand crafted stone benches invite people to relax and enjoy the river. The benches are etched with a map of the Ogden River watershed, and a piece of water wisdom: “All the water that will ever be, is!”
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=7b0b88a1de3cfe20d48571a757fa94c0 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=0c9641cb5b2cfd8302c3acd15b786189 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=0003a0908ce8c588569f142308b515c1 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=d737cd05ca2254bc00d5261d593b4941 800w)
Snowbasin Resort is home to several life-size bronze wildlife sculptures, both inside and outside of their opulent lodges. Each is worth checking out, but we bring this up mostly because at some point, you’re going to hear, “Meet me at the moose.”
In the center of the plaza between Earl’s Lodge and the Grizzly Center, you’re going to find a large gathering of people double checking the text messages on their phones or gazing around trying to locate the party they’re trying to meet. In the middle of that crowd, you’ll find the massive bronze moose and understand why the most uttered phrase during any ski day at Snowbasin is, “Meet me at the moose.”
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-21.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=e26f202ff0c85796522fd8de5f5be6f5 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-21.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=e1bb26f298006f69ce22ef21803b04f0 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-21.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=6f7715275bf5e1c5b26a5b27ad5d2c0b 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-21.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=eae1ea4be0d5510bced827b6566fd3b2 800w)
Now that you know the public works of art that are used to navigate the area, let’s point out a few of Ogden’s gems that you can find just a step or two off the beaten path.
The Ogden Intermodal Transportation Center (our fancy name for where you catch the train and most buses) houses a richness of public art, including bronze installations on the train platform, a suspended indoor sculpture, and a beautiful metalwork installation on the exterior of a reclaimed train car.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-5.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=fb86dad8309c6d6b2ad6d1a916fd2385 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-5.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=4e0deb3f507912a12363f8a138003aa1 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-5.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=0e38d5eeb128df948f66f6d11b5d765c 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-5.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=b037d6b901a6ef479ee7cd6344fe58fc 800w)
Our hope is that your visit to Ogden doesn’t require a visit to any of our courthouses, but we definitely encourage public art lovers to take a stroll through the metal detectors in order to access some incredibly unique installations.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-26.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=f14f484ec43308928f636040bea29827 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-26.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=ca2dd7b9deca77c6b03e396596ad9312 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-26.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=6ccc1e53be80c0bb4bd58982e556d260 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-26.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=45eac9e42cedb308720a1ab49af6610c 800w)
Finally, the higher education institutions in Ogden are also home to dozens of public art installations. Leaning more toward the fine arts side of the spectrum, the campus at Weber State University houses several galleries as well as public art.
More toward the industrial arts side of the spectrum, the Ogden-Weber Technical College displays some impressive pieces as well.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-20.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=e0ccf96f08063728315b2c83e13af905 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-20.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=270d5439dae5843a7e678b82f29b7027 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-20.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=7e1132c39d5b0d175f32c8cb541402fe 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Public-Art-20.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=ffbd9ee537363d5e9c86a78408aa9ebb 800w)
Of course, much of Ogden’s rise to prominence took place in the early part of the 20th century, so countless buildings contain unique expressions of the art deco influence, and it’s worth keeping your artistic eye focused as you make your way around town as this brief overview doesn’t even scratch the surface of publicly available art around town.
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3925 E Snowbasin Rd Huntsville, Utah 84317 (801) 620-1000