Gardo Palace Dollhouse

Harriet Amelia Folsom Young was the daughter of architect William Folsom, who helped design and build the Salt Lake Tabernacle; Salt Lake Theater; and the St. George, Manti, and Salt Lake Temples. Amelia married Brigham Young in 1863, becoming his favorite wite.

Amelia, known for her wit and intelligence, often entertained Brigham's guests. In 1873, Brigham commissioned a separate residence for entertaining dignitaries. The home cost $80,000 and was completed in

1881. The name of the home was Gardo House. No one knows how the name came about. Some believe it came from a Spanish novel Brigham especially liked. Others believe people saw the towering home as a sentinel on guard over the valley, thus calling it Gardo. The home had a full basement, a beautiful main floor with a sweeping spiral staircase, and two upper levels; in all 46 rooms. To furnish the home, another $25,000 was spent.

After Young's death, Amelia was able to live in it for a short while before it changed hands and names, facing ridicule for opulence. Eventually taken by the government and eventually sold to the Federal Reserve Bank, it was demolished in 1926. The Eagle Gate Plaza and Tower now stand in its place.