Park City Museum

The Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail lecture given by Marcos Van Dalen
2026-02-25 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver)
Park City Museum will host a lecture called The Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail given by Marcos Van Dalen on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 5-6 p.m. held at the Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
Come learn about the important but often overlooked or misunderstood history of the Buffalo Soldiers and their specific connection to Utah’s cultural heritage. Their story, which begins shortly after the Civil War, is one of resilience and lasting contribution, woven directly into the fabric of the country’s westward expansion and Utah’s unique history. Recently the State Historic Preservation Office, Sema Hadithi African American Heritage & Culture Foundation, and several other stakeholders worked together to develop the Utah Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail.
In this presentation we will discuss the research, challenges, volunteer involvement, and trail locations associated with the Buffalo Soldiers and their time spent in Utah. This specific project transforms extensive research into accessible educational resources, including interpretive signage and a comprehensive website and ongoing research. Our ultimate goal is for this Utah heritage trail to provide travelers with a unique opportunity to experience history in the exact places where it happened, fostering a richer understanding and appreciation for the people who helped shape the state. The State Historic Preservation office will also be providing free copies of the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail booklet, there will be an opportunity to experience actual artifacts and other lesser-known artifacts like photographs and documents connected to this story.
Marcos Van Dalen is the History Researcher for the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), where he has worked for the past year and a half. In this role, he leads historical research for the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail and contributes to multiple public history initiatives, including ongoing work documenting the mining history of the Tintic Mining District. He is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah pursuing degrees in History and Asian Studies with a regional focus on China. He is also an active duty U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant with eight years of service, currently pursuing a commission through the University of Utah NROTC program.

Park City Turns to Skiing lecture given by Larry Warren-CANCELED
2026-03-11 17:00 - 18:00
Due to a bad injury while skiing, this lecture has been postponed until next year. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes. We wish Larry well in his recovery.

On the Trail of Fremont Shield Bearers lecture given by Elizabeth Hora
2026-03-25 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum will host a lecture called On the Trail of Fremont Shield Bearers given by Elizabeth Hora on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5-6 p.m. held at the Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
If you’ve been hiking through many of Utah’s canyons you likely have seen Fremont Shield-Bearers: a striking, if uncommon, human form that appears to hold a large circular shield in front of them or off to one side. Many past researchers have theorized the connection between Fremont shield-bearers and similar human forms in both Puebloan and Plains rock imagery traditions, but so far no quantifiable data have been suggested to evaluate the nature of their relationship, or even confirm its existence. In this presentation we will sample areas of prehistoric rock imagery to learn how their shield-bearers relate to each other in form, frequency, and time.
Elizabeth Hora is founder and Executive Director of High Desert Heritage and Research She has been a professional archaeologist for over 20 years and has worked in nearly every state in the west. Her interest in prehistoric rock imagery grew from her thesis work in the Uinta Basin studying whether environmental and population pressures may have driven territorial actions, like warfare. Now in her professional role she brings archaeological interpretations to the public and teaches about the importance of preserving cultural heritage and repatriating Native American artifacts.

The Ferris-Haggarty Mine and Boston & Wyoming Smelter lecture given by Mark Danninger
2026-04-15 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum and Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History will host a lecture called The Ferris-Haggarty Mine and Boston & Wyoming Smelter given by Mark Danninger on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 5-6 p.m. held at the Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
The Ferris-Haggarty Mine and the related Boston & Wyoming Smelter were located in the Encampment, Wyoming area and supplied copper for the burgeoning electrification of the United States. The mine and smelter (including a mill/concentrator) were the only sizeable copper operations in Wyoming in the history of the state and operated from the 1890’s until 1907. It is a remarkable story of determination and optimism which resulted in a successful albeit short-lived mining and processing operation in a very remote location.
Mark is a mining engineer with over 30 years’ experience in underground mining, maintenance, welding, project management, safety and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Mining Engineering and Welding Engineering, as well as a Master’s Degree in Physical Metallurgy, all from Montana Tech., in Butte, Montana. His is a long-term resident of Park City.

Ute History Revealed lecture given by Forrest Cuch
2026-04-22 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum will host a lecture called Ute History Revealed given by Forrest Cuch on April 22, 2026 from 5-6 p.m. held at the Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
Forrest S. Cuch is an enrolled member of the Ute Indian Tribe. He was born and raised on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in northeastern Utah. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Behavioral Sciences from Westminster College. Forrest has held many challenging jobs during his 38-year career having worked for several Indian tribes in various capacities to serving as director for Utah Division of Indian Affairs. He published, A History of Utah’s American Indians, Utah State University Press, 2000. Forrest played a key role in the PBS/KUED sponsored curriculum project entitled; We Shall Remain, which features a video series of the histories of the Utah tribes with accompanying materials. Currently retired, he provides lectures on healing trauma, Native American History, and conservation. In 2022, he was appointed to Jane Goodall’s Legacy Foundation. He also recently co-authored a book entitled, A Native Way of Giving, 2022, Episcopal Church Publishing.

Latter-day Saint History 101: Prophets, Pilgrims, and Pioneers lecture given by Matt Grow
2026-05-06 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum will host a lecture called Latter-day Saint History 101: Prophets, Pilgrims, and Pioneers given by Matt Grow on Wednesday, May 6th from 5-6 p.m. at the Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
How did members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as Mormons or Latter-day Saints) come to settle in the Mountain West? And how did their religious beliefs shape the settlement of Utah? This presentation will trace the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from its founding in 1830 through the early settlement of Utah in the late 1840s and 1850s. We will discuss the role of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (prophets); the practice of converts gathering together in communities (pilgrims); and the journey to the Salt Lake Valley (pioneers).
Matt Grow is the author of many books on Latter-day Saint and American religious history, including studies of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. He earned his PhD in history at the University of Notre Dame and is the managing director of the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Rooted in Tradition: Native American Food Sovereignty lecture given by Darren Parry
2026-05-20 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum will host a lecture called Rooted in Tradition: Native American Food Sovereignty given by Darren Parry on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 5-6 p.m., which will be held at the Park City Museum Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive. More information can be found at www.parkcityhistory.org.
Darren Parry is the former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Darren serves on the Board of Directors for Utah Humanities and the PBS Utah. He attended the University of Utah and Weber State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 2024, he received an Honorary PhD in Education from Utah State University. Darren is the author of “The Bear River Massacre, A Shoshone History” and teaches in the Environmental Humanities department at the University of Utah. He lectures around the country on Native American issues surrounding history and Indigenous views related to sustainability. He recently gave a lecture at the University of Copenhagen and spoke about Indigenous views to Climate and Environment. His passions in life are his wife Melody, 7 children and 17 grandchildren. His other passion is his Tribal family. He wants to make sure that those who have gone before him are not forgotten.

Medical Care in Park City in 1900—Not For the Faint of Heart lecture given by Dr. Thomas Schwenk
2026-06-03 17:00 - 18:00
Park City Museum will host a lecture called Medical Care in Park City in 1900—Not For the Faint of Heart given by Dr. Thomas Schwenk on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Park City Museum Education and Collections Center located at 2079 Sidewinder Drive, Park City UT.
Life was rough and death common in the remote mining town of Park City in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This presentation will discuss common diseases and injuries of the era, the doctors and nurses who cared for the town, and the funding and building of the much-needed Miners Hospital in 1904.
Dr. Thomas Schwenk is a board-certified family physician who practiced in Park City from 1978 to 1984, the first full-time physician in town following the closure of the mines. A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, he also trained at the University of Utah. Following his academic career at the University of Michigan and the University of Nevada, Reno, he returned to Park City with his wife, Jane. They have children in Denver and Brooklyn, both of whom were born in Utah and consider themselves Parkites.

Main Street Walking Tour
2026-06-29 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-06-30 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-01 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-02 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-03 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-06 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-07 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-08 14:00 - 15:30 and 12 more dates
Put on your walking shoes and explore Park City’s Historic Main Street! Explore the architecture and stories of Park City’s unique history-from the days as a booming mine town to an emerging ski town. The Park City Museum’s popular Historic Main Street Public Walking Tours are Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. from June 29 to September 19. Meet at the Museum store. Cost is $15 per person.
No tours on August 8 (Kimball Arts Festival) and September 7 (Labor Day/Miners’ Day).
The tour is most appropriate for ages 13 and up. Please arrive 10 minutes early, wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water, and wear sun protection. The tour lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes. If you have general questions about the tour or want to schedule a private tour for twelve or more people, please contact Diane at 435-574-9554.

Glenwood Cemetery Tours
2026-06-30 10:30 - 12:00
Park City Museum will be giving tours of the Historic Glenwood Cemetery located at 401 Silver King Drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. from June 30th to September 17th. We have also added three Saturday dates this year including July 25th, August 22nd, and September 5th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and a few Monday evening tours including June 29th, July 6th, July 20th, August 10th, August 24th, and September 14th all starting at 5:30 p.m.
Discover the history of the Cemetery and those residents who are buried there. Please register for a tour at www.parkcityhistory.org. Tours will be $15 per person. Please meet at the Glenwood Cemetery by the gate, bring a water bottle, wear sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. Parking will be on Silver King Drive near the Cemetery. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Knispel education@parkcityhistory.org or call 435-574-9554.

Park Avenue Tours
2026-07-03 10:30 - 12:00
Discover the stories about the people who lived on Park Avenue, the architecture of the buildings, and the churches and businesses that were part of the community. Tours are 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on the following dates: July 3, July 17, Aug 7, Aug 21, Sept 4, and Sept 18. Tours are $15 per person. Park your car at St. Mary’s Old Town Chapel located at 121 Park Avenue. We will give you a parking pass to put on your car dashboard. Bring water and wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Any questions? Contact 435-574-9554.
