Late American sculptor Robert Smithson’s most famous creation, “Spiral Jetty” (1970), has been officially recognized by being added to the United States National Register of Historic Places. Located at Rozel Point on the northeast shore of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, this massive Land Art piece embodies the ever-changing nature of its environment, exploring the concepts of permanence and transience.
Smithson was inspired by entropy when creating this monumental work, fascinated by the unique microorganisms and minerals in the brine that gave the lake its distinctive reddish-pink color. The surrounding area was barren, with abandoned industrial structures like an old pier, shacks, and rusted oil rigs. Smithson leased 10 acres of land at the basin for $100 annually for 20 years and began his project.
Funded in part by a $9,000 grant from the Virginia Dwan Gallery in New York, “Spiral Jetty” consists of 6,650 tons of black basalt rocks transported by dump trucks, tractors, and front-end loaders, along with earth excavated from the site. Extending 1,500 feet into the lake, the coil has a diameter of 15 feet, requiring significant effort and the assistance of multiple workers over a week. Initially planned as a J shape, Smithson later altered it to a counterclockwise spiral appearance.
Smithson anticipated that the water levels would fluctuate, allowing salt deposits to crystallize and sparkle on the jetty during times of recession. However, entropy had other plans, as the artwork was completely submerged from 1972 to 2002. Tragically, Smithson died in a plane crash just three years after completing “Spiral Jetty,” never witnessing how climate change and drought would pull his creation back from the shallow water.
Following Smithson’s passing, his widow, the late artist Nancy Holt, donated “Spiral Jetty” to the Dia Art Foundation. The foundation has since been responsible for preserving and documenting the site, as it faces increasing vulnerability to environmental factors. Designated as the official state artwork of Utah in 2017, “Spiral Jetty” has become a popular remote tourist destination with specific restrictions in place to prevent human interference, such as no foot access, removal of rocks, construction of fire pits, or littering.
With its recent addition to the National Register of Historic Places, the Dia Art Foundation hopes that this new status will aid in the long-term preservation of “Spiral Jetty,” particularly in light of past threats such as proposed oil drilling projects near the site. Dia Art Foundation Director Jessica Morgan expressed pride in caring for and advocating for the artwork, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
The recognition and protection provided by its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places will undoubtedly safeguard the legacy and significance of Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty” for years to come.
