The Granite Mountain Vault

The astounding views from the summit of the granite mountain trail come at a price.

The granite mountain vault.

Named the granite mountain records vault it s located 600 feet deep into the rock and designed to withstand a nuclear blast. The storage area has three access tunnels faced with heavy bank vault doors in very strong encasements. There is nearly 300 feet of solid granite above the vault s laboratory and office area and 700 feet above the six huge vault storage rooms. The main function of the vault is storage preservation and reproduction of genealogical records.

Photo courtesy the church of jesus christ of latter day saints the granite mountain records vault is the official storage unit for 2 4 million rolls of microfilm containing approximately 3 5. Granite mountain records vault the world s largest collection of genealogical records is housed in a secure vault located in the mountains near familysearch world headquarters in salt lake city utah. 2 4 million rolls of microfilm containing approximately 3 5 billion images of family history records that s what is really inside the mormon church s granite mountain records vault. The granite mountain records vault also known simply as the vault is a large archive and vault owned by the church of jesus christ of latter day saints lds church excavated 600 feet into the north side of little cottonwood canyon.

The granite mountain records vault is a monument to the perseverance and dedication of thousands of people all over the world who collect film catalog index and maintain mankind s tangible proof of existence. The vault safeguards more than 3 5 billion images on microfilm microfiche and digital media. Besides genealogical preservation and storage granite mountain records vault serves as the deep archives for a myriad of church materials including scriptures in every language published large leather bound temple ordinance books that were hand kept through the 1960s materials and minutes from presiding priesthood quorums financial records backup tapes and audio visual masters from legacy to johnny lingo. While there are administration offices also located near the vault it s not open to the public.

The church claims that it houses the world s largest collection of genealogy records. The protection the granite mountain records vault affords cannot be equaled in an outdoor structure. At this very moment technology is being developed that will ensure the long term preservation of these records in a digital or.