Silver and Snow
In 2001, with the Winter Olympics approaching in a matter of months, Park City Historical Society Director…
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The Hazards of a Big Winter
In a big snow year like this one, those of us who live in mountains know the…
A Coney Island Adventure
Water amusement parks have long been a popular source of recreation. Utah’s most famous was Saltair, on…
Chaos at Silver Creek
The figures for mineral production in the Park City Mining District are substantial. The Utah Geological Survey…
Long Skis Only Please
Signs at the top of the Hoist ski run at Park City Ski Area in 1976. Credit…
The March of Progress
By the time the last Park City mine shut down in 1982, the Park City Mining District…
Toasting to Breaking a Leg…and the Luck o’ the Irish
In this photo from 1899, these amateur actors, including Irishman Jim Burns (far right), raised their glasses…
Stamping Out Dictators in World War II
The United States funded World War II in part through the sale of bonds to the public.…
Trained Safety Crews Helped Rescue Miners
The United States Bureau of Mines was founded in 1910, partly as a response to a rash…
Wish You Were Here
Countless of postcards like this one from 1907 were mailed to and from Park City between 1905…
A Shocking Crime in Old Park City
“One of the most foul and cowardly murders that has ever darkened the criminal record of Park…
Miner Survives Fall Down Shaft
In a remarkable feat of survival, on May 17, 1918, Elwin Stuart Maxim fell 1300 feet down…
Park City’s First (Short-lived) Hospital
Last week’s article explored the efforts of businessman E.H. Howard and Doctor Thomas Monahan to found and…
Opening the First Hospital in Park City
Many of you are familiar with the story of the Miners Hospital. You know that as Park…
Changing Standards for Milk
Public health became an increasingly prevalent concern in the United States in the late nineteenth century. As…
Park City Was Hometown to (In)Famous Artist
You don’t have to be a photography aficionado to have heard of Ansel Adams. Even if the…
Basketball on Skates!
Cliff Roach, Don Young, Cliff Street, Bud Tessman, Mel Fletcher, and John Novak play a game of…
Looking back at Park City one hundred years ago
As is tradition for this column as the year winds down, let’s take a look at Park…
John Whitta, Musician
John Whitta was born in Australia on May 28, 1866. He lived a short time in both…
John the Revelator worked for 30 years
Last week’s article recounted the early history of the John the Revelator mine in Snake Creek Canyon.…
John, the Revelator
There were several successful, well-known mines in Park City. The Ontario, Silver King, and Daly West come…
Before it was a ski area, “Jupiter” was a local mine
Jupiter is one of the legendary areas to ski and ride at Park City Mountain. However, long…
Battle of the Miners
Nothing captures the fascination of a small town like the local high school football team playing for…
News from the Western Front
The First World War, described at the time as “the war to end all wars,” officially ended…
Once Upon A Midnight Clear
It was winter 1990-91. White Pine Canyon was owned in large part by two families. There were…
When the Cable Broke
When the Silver King Aerial Tramway opened on June 6, 1901, engineers deemed it a world class,…
From the Perspective of Tower 39
I am 118 years old, as are my remaining thirty-five siblings. Originally we numbered thirty-nine, a very…
North Park Still Central to Park City’s Story
Once considered “North Park” or the outskirts of Park City, the land by the mouth of Thaynes…
A Parkite’s Letter Makes A Long Journey
By October 1919, World War I had officially been over for nearly a year and life, at…
Pitch ‘Em, and Have Some Fun!
Park City loves to play. In fact, Park City was reborn after the collapse of the mining…
Two ‘Pedestriennes’ Visit Park City
On July 18, 1896, two women, their shoes nearly worn through, walked into Park City. These women…
Accidents, Misdiagnoses, and Untimely Deaths in Early Park City
Rebecca Simmons was born in Brazil in 1866. Her family came from Cornwall, England, a place where…
Ellen Sloan Mawhinney at Peace in Glenwood
Ellen Sloan was born in Ireland in 1855, before silver was even discovered in Park City. She…
Glenwood Cemetery Holds Many Tragic Stories
On September 22, the Park City Museum will be hosting tours at the Glenwood Cemetery. In anticipation…
Glenwood Remains Unforgettable
In 1996 the Glenwood Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. As unique as…
Wild Birds, Coyotes, and Bears, Oh My!
Forget your cats, dogs, and guinea pigs. How about a black bear or a coyote? While today…
Park City’s First Playground
For many of us, it’s impossible to remember our childhoods without recalling time spent at a playground,…
Parkites Treated to Rare Display of the Aurora Borealis
Seeing the aurora borealis, or northern lights, is high on many people’s bucket lists. The vast majority…
Local Mining Men in Far-off Lands
When Park City mining men Colonel William M. Ferry and James Kescel, along with other prominent experts…
A Peruvian Expedition
On October 24, 1888, an expeditionary party consisting of Park City mining men Colonel William M. Ferry…