Unearthing Alta's Mining Past
On June 22–26, 2026, archaeologists returned to Alta to continue investigating a historic mining-era building discovered during construction work last year at Alta Ski Area.
According to lead archaeologist Christopher Merritt, the project began in 2025 when crews installing snowmaking pipes and a waterline for Alta Ski Lifts uncovered the front portion of a previously unknown historic structure. The building is located along old Water Street, an area of Alta that has far less documented history than nearby Walker Street, which appears frequently in historic photographs and records.
Photo credit: Todd Collins
Photo credit: Todd Collins
The goal of this year’s excavation is to learn more about the building and the people who once occupied it. Was it a restaurant, a theater, a business, or something else entirely? Archaeologists hope the artifacts left behind will help tell its story.
A second excavation site on Water Street is also drawing interest. Soil samples recovered last year contained traces of lye soap—a cleaning product made from animal fats and potash that was commonly used to remove stubborn grease and dirt. The discovery suggests the site may have once been home to a laundry or washhouse.
Photo credit: Todd Collins
Photo credit: Todd Collins
Among the artifacts uncovered so far are an 1854 silver dollar, a personal glass ink bottle, and a toothbrush bearing the word “London.” Some of Merritt’s favorite discoveries, however, are items that reveal more about daily life in Alta. One such artifact is a cast-iron seat that may have come from a schoolhouse or perhaps an opera house theater. Another is a handmade brick, smooth on one side and rough on the other, likely produced by a brick maker in the Salt Lake Valley. Artifacts like these provide valuable clues about how Alta’s early residents lived and built their community.
Because the excavation is taking place on federal land, all recovered artifacts are protected under federal law. Each item is carefully cataloged, bagged, and labeled with its site number, location, date, soil information, and other relevant details before being transported to Salt Lake City for documentation and preservation. While many artifacts will be stored for future research, some may eventually be displayed in local museums.
Photo credit: Todd Collins
Photo credit: Todd Collins
Visitors should also keep an eye out for potential displays at the new Albion Grill in the coming year, where select artifacts from Alta’s rich mining history may be showcased.
For more information about the archaeological dig please visit Utah State Historic Preservation Office story map here https://arcg.is/0ffiDK0
Or, follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UtahSHPO
or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ut_shpo/
Photo credit: Todd Collins
All photos in this article were taken by Todd Collins