1. The Pony Express Reaches Salt Lake City (1860)
On April 19, 1860, the Pony Express arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the first time, after launching from St. Joseph, Missouri. The service was established to deliver mail quickly to and from the West Coast, and relied on horse-mounted riders to cover the distance from Missouri to California in just 10 days.

2. The Mormon Pioneer Company Set Out for Utah (1847)
On April 19, 1847, the first company of Mormon pioneers began their journey from Winter Quarters, Nebraska, to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. Led by Brigham Young, the group of over 140 men, women, and children traveled more than 1,000 miles across the plains and mountains to reach their new home in the West.

3. The Salt Lake Temple Cornerstone was Laid (1853)
On April 19, 1853, the cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple was laid in a ceremony overseen by Brigham Young. The temple would take over 40 years to complete, and stands as an iconic symbol of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its presence in Utah.

4. Utah's First Capitol Building Burned Down (1912)
On April 19, 1912, Utah's first capitol building in Salt Lake City was destroyed by a devastating fire. The building, which had served as the seat of government for the state since 1896, was deemed unsafe and demolished, with a new capitol building constructed in its place.

5. The Transcontinental Railroad Was Completed (1869)
On April 19, 1869, the final spike was driven into the ground in Promontory Summit, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. The railway connected the East Coast to the West Coast, and brought unprecedented growth and development to Utah and the surrounding states.