In the basement foyer, the DUP pays respects to the indigenous peoples of Utah. There are numerous cases filled with baskets, pots, arrowheads, and other items used by the first inhabitants of the area.
The basement of the main building is guarded by the original giant eagle that once spanned Eagle Gate. Carved by Ralph Ramsay, the wooden eagle was replaced with a metal replica in the mid-twentieth century.  Ralph Ramsay also carved the amazing bed on this floor — it took him decades to complete it! The military room in the  basement displays guns, weapons, flags, and other artifacts related to war (including brass knuckles and billy clubs). The ZCMI replica store tells the story of the early LDS cooperative mercantile in Utah (and beyond). The railroad room has the original “Ten Miles of Track Laid in One Day” sign, along with a piece of railroad, and a replica of the Golden Spike! The Silver Queen room displays dresses owned by Utah’s “Silver Queen,” Susanna Bransford Emery Holmes Delitch Engalitcheff. Owner of many silver mines, she was briefly the owner of the Gardo House on South Temple (torn down in the 1920s). This room has an architectural scale model of the Gardo House along with some dresses of Susanna’s. There’s a case of early Utah pottery, and do not forget the taxidermy two-headed lamb. A description of the floor would not be complete without mentioning the spinning wheels, looms, and sewing machines.