Main Street Walking Questions
And Answers
1. Park City has been through many ups and downs in its mining history. As you walk up Main Street in Park City you will see new and old buildings. How can you tell?
Some of the buildings on Main Street have Historic plaques that tell what they were and when they were built.
Some of the buildings are typical of the buildings of western mining towns at the turn of the century; with large false fronts and smaller buildings behind, recessed doorways, large display windows with a wooden kickplate under the windows to deal with snow.
The houses visible beyond Main street are either small simple Mining houses in the shape of a T,L, or rectangle with little decoration, or two story, gable roofed homes with decorated corner braces on the porches and roofs. The new or renovated homes, have garages, foundations, and renovated large editions on the back.
2. Find 10 examples of how you can tell that Park City was a booming town at the early part of the 1900's and why each example indicates prosperity in Park City.
Union Pacific Depot - 2 story large building with baggage area on back-indicative of lucrative RR commerce in Park City.
Plaza where town lift is, the Silver King Tram Towers can be seen paralleling the ski lift, indicative of a lucrative mining business.
Claimjumper Restaurant the site of the Park Hotel - indicative of visiting business people with money to stay in a hotel.
Frankles Clothing Store
Sezuchan Chinese Restaurant - pressed tin facade
Sheriff's office
Fraternal organizations - Elks Lodge, Masonic Hall
City Hall
War Memorial Building
Banks Building
Newspaper Building
China Steps still there, leading to China Bridge burned in fire of 1898- indicating Chinese still lived here in service positions
Street lights - available prosperous towns
Bell Telephone Office
Miner's houses - those with elaborate trim, two stories were homes of the wealthy
3. How do you think it is doing today? Why? Site 10 examples to support your feelings?