Granite Mountain Record Vault

Here is a picture of the entrance of the GMRV or the Granite Mountain Record Vault. It is located up beautiful Little Cottonwood Canyon along the Wasatch mountains in Utah. I wanted to do a post on this place because it holds amazing genealogical treasures. It is the big brother to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

The GMRV houses about 2.4 million rolls of microfilm. This number does not include all of the information found in book form. There is estimated to be more than 4 billion original names on these rolls of microfilm. So, this number does not include any duplicate names! Mouth drops open, eyes pop out! I know - there are a lot of people to be found. Now, get ready, this is the kicker. Out of the 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, only 1 million rolls have been checked out! Okay, looks like there is a lot more research to be done. This should give everyone hope. Always, exhaust all possible records. Every record has its own set of information to offer the genealogist.

The LDS Church began acquiring this mass of information in 1938. Since one of the very first directives that Joseph Smith received was to turn our hearts to our fathers, the LDS Church knew that to make this happen for its members - records must be made readily available. So, film crews began the large task of flying around the world to film and collect records that contain information about our forefathers. They are still sending film crews out today. The collection of records is not done.

Now we have arrived at the point where the LDS Church is now scanning all of the 2.4 million rolls of microfilm plus the large book collection it has and putting it all in a digitized format on familysearch.org. The amazing engineers have rebuilt - meaning they have pumped up their scanners to withstand the demanding 13 hours a day, 5 days a week task of scanning. Finally, it is estimated that the scanning will be complete in 7 to 9 years.

So, check out familysearch.org. Last year, the amount of digital images available on familysearch.org - DOUBLED! If you don't find what you need, look again and again.