The year 2000 marks the sesquicentennial of the University of Utah. From its humble beginning as the University of Deseret three years after the Mormon pioneers entered the Great Salt Lake Valley to its current status as the flagship institution of the mountain West, the University of Utah and its community of faculty, staff, students, friends, and alumni have sought to make it a center of distinction.Celebrating 150 years of excellence, this lavish volume offers a fond view of the U's past, takes stock of the present, and looks forward to the new century. Professor Craig Denton draws on family connections spanning four generations to bring to life the drama, tradition, and spirit of the University of Utah. His words and photographic images present the U in its dual aspects as both a peculiarly Western university and as a nationally ranked research center.In Part I, Professor Denton takes readers through an exploration of the Life of the Institution, its rituals and celebrations of intellectual and athletic achievement. Part II addresses the Life of the Mind with a look at research, teaching, and some of the great mentors of the past. Part III looks at the role of the U in the Life of the Community from residential life to theaters, museums, medicine, and volunteer efforts close to campus and far beyond.This is a book for those who take pride in their connection to the University of Utah and its achievements. And it is a book for those who look optimistically to the U's continuing excellence in the future.