Check out renovations at historic Ogden High

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Details in the completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Guests tour the renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Kent McMillen, of Ogden, looks up at the completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Guests tour the renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Guests talk outside the newly renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Details in the completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Guests tour the renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Kent McMillen, of Ogden, looks up at the completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Guests tour the renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Completed renovation of the auditorium at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Guests talk outside the newly renovated auditorium at Ogden High School during program at the school in Ogden, Utah Wednesday, August 17, 2011. A voter-approved bond is paying for upgrades to the entire high school, but private donors pitched in the cash needed to restore the auditorium. The space, which includes a ceiling embellished with authentic gold leaf, showcases the Art Deco style of the high school. Ogden High was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

By The Salt Lake Tribune

· September 20, 2011 3:24 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

When Ogden High School debuted in 1937, it stunned many as the first "million-dollar" high school in the United States. Now, the Ogden School District is nearing completion of a $65 million renovation of the grand Art Deco school, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The public is invited to see work that has been completed on the auditorium, commons, cafeteria, new athletic complex and a renovation of the old gym into science labs. Ogden High, 2828 Harrison Boulevard, will host an open house Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with brief programs in the auditorium at 11:15 a.m., noon, 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The entire renovation, including classrooms and the foyer, is expected to be done in December 2012, said Ogden district spokeswoman Donna Corby.

The decorative auditorium has been restored through private donations, with the Ogden Education Foundation raising the $9 million needed. A surprise gift in August of $400,000 from the Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation brought the four-year capital campaign to a close, Ogden district reports. Spencer F. Eccles graduated from Ogden High in 1952.

"Our alma mater remains the most beautiful high school in the state … if not the nation," Eccles said in a statement. "We admire the foresight of those in the 1930s who built such a remarkable structure. We're thrilled to join with others to help ensure that Ogden High remains not only an important architectural icon, but also a vibrant facility for students and the community today and in the decades to come."

Rosemary Winters