1. On December 17, 1847, the Mormon pioneers in Utah celebrated the first Christmas in their new settlement. They decorated a small wagon with evergreen boughs and held a festive dinner.

2. In 1912, the Utah State Capitol building was completed and opened to the public on December 17. The grand neoclassical building boasts a rotunda with an ornate dome, marble columns, and intricate murals.

3. December 17, 1923 saw the opening of the Devereaux Mansion, now known as the Utah Governor's Mansion. The grand home, located in Salt Lake City, was built for one of Utah's wealthiest families in the early 1900s.

4. Women in Utah gained the right to vote on December 17, 1869, becoming one of the first states in the US to grant suffrage to women. This paved the way for women's rights and representation in politics.

5. The Utah Jazz, a professional basketball team in the NBA, played their first game at the Salt Palace Arena in Salt Lake City on December 17, 1979. The team has since become an important part of Utah's sports culture.