The site for the tabernacle was chosen by LDS Church President Brigham Young, who after visiting a different site selected by local church officers, went atop "Sagebrush hill" the highest point along main street and reportedly stated "this is the spot for your tabernacle.

In 1889, it was voted to "complete" the building by adding its tower, gallery, rear vestibule, capped brick buttresses, and other improvements.

On Sunday February 9, 1896, as church members began to assemble a fire broke out in the furnace room, the building ignited and was reduced to blackened stone walls.

Within a year the tabernacle was rebuilt with elegant woodwork, a distinctive gothic-revival tower and sixteen graceful pinnacles, and dedicated by George Q. Cannon on March 21, 1897.

On April 12, 1987, LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer, who was born & raised in Brigham City, rededicated the tabernacle after extensive renovations.