The building also serves as headquarters for the DUP, which has hundreds of local units (called "camps") in communities throughout the Mormon corridor, many of which operate their own satellite museums.

[2] The museum's collection contains thousands of artifacts from the Mormon-pioneer era (defined as the time period prior to the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in May 1869).

[15][13] By 1936, the DUP was making plans to build their own headquarters and museum on the Utah State Capitol grounds, hoping to have it completed by the Mormon pioneer centennial celebration in 1947.

[18] The DUP presented their $75,000 check to the state in January 1946, and Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw gave the final go ahead to design and construct the museum.

[20] Some nearby homeowners fought against the museum, over concerns it would ruin the symmetry of the capitol grounds, that the lot was too small and parking would be inadequate and would create traffic hazards.

The lawsuit charged that the project was in violation of the constitutions of the United States and Utah because it provided taxpayer money and special privileges to a private corporation (the DUP).

[31] Following a hearing on the case in February 1948, the Utah Supreme Court (in a 3-2 decision) ruled in July of that year that the agreement was constitutional and allowed construction to resume.

Church Apostle Ezra Taft Benson dedicated the building on behalf of George Albert Smith, who was too ill to attend.

Services also included remarks from Governor J. Bracken Lee; Utah's secretary of state, Heber Bennion Jr. (who presented the building to the DUP on a 99-year lease); and Amy B. Lyman.

[48][49] The museum was rededicated on October 8, 2010, with a dedicatory prayer by Marlin K. Jensen, Church Historian and Recorder, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony which included Governor Gary Herbert.