Salt Lake City's Leonardo Museum Closes Permanently Over Aging Building Challenges

The Leonardo museum announced it is permanently closing after about 15 years, blaming years-long problems with the 61-year-old building and critical infrastructure — including escalators, elevators and plumbing — that have reached the end of their serviceable life. The institution had closed temporarily in June for repairs and struggled for years with fundraising shortfalls, disputes over renovation bonds, unpaid bills and lower-than-expected attendance. During its run the museum staged interactive, high-profile touring exhibits (e.g., Mummies of the World, Dead Sea Scrolls, Body Worlds and Pompeii) and promoted art–science–technology programming that leaders say left a lasting community legacy. City officials say they plan to repurpose the building for office space and are exploring cultural uses for the ground floor, while Ken Sanders Rare Books — which operates in the space — has remained a point of uncertainty. Museum officials expressed gratitude to supporters, encouraged continued creativity and innovation in the community, and noted that efforts to resolve the building issues (including a recently planned auction of exhibits) were unsuccessful.