In 1896, the buildings and surrounding lands were given to the newly created State of Utah and were designated as the Utah State Prison, sometimes referred to as the "state pen".
Starting in 1900, executions by the state were carried out in the prison.
Prior to that, death penalties were administered in the counties where the crimes had been committed.
Tickets were distributed in 1903 for admission to publicly view an execution by firing squad.

With the continuing growth of Salt Lake City, the local residents eventually wanted the prison population relocated away from the neighborhood of Sugar House.
In 1937, plans were approved for a new prison, 22 miles south of the city in Draper.
By 1921, work began on the 1019-acre (408 ha) site, then called "Point of the Mountain", to replace the aging penitentiary.
However, construction of the new facility was delayed because of shortages stemming from World War II.
On March 12, 1951, the 575 inmates at the old prison were transferred by bus to the newly completed Utah State Prison.
After nine sticks of dynamite had little effect on the heavy walls of the shuttered penitentiary, the demolition of many sections had to be carried out stone by stone.
In 1896, the buildings and surrounding lands were given to the newly created State of Utah and were designated as the Utah State Prison, sometimes referred to as the "state pen". Starting in 1900, executions by the state were carried out in the prison. Prior to that, death penalties were administered in the counties where the crimes had been committed. Tickets were distributed in 1903 for admission to publicly view an execution by firing squad.
With the continuing growth of Salt Lake City, the local residents eventually wanted the prison population relocated away from the neighborhood of Sugar House. In 1937, plans were approved for a new prison, 22 miles south of the city in Draper. By 1921, work began on the 1019-acre (408 ha) site, then called "Point of the Mountain", to replace the aging penitentiary. However, construction of the new facility was delayed because of shortages stemming from World War II. On March 12, 1951, the 575 inmates at the old prison were transferred by bus to the newly completed Utah State Prison. After nine sticks of dynamite had little effect on the heavy walls of the shuttered penitentiary, the demolition of many sections had to be carried out stone by stone.
Sugar House Prison (Utah)