The Silver King Mine Exhibit

Silver was discovered in the mountains of Park City in 1868 and soon thousands of miners arrived seeking their fortunes. At one time there were as many as 300 mines in operation. Lead, copper, zinc and gold were also mined here.In 1872, mining entrepreneur George Hearst paid $27,000 for the Ontario Mine. It rewarded him with a fortune of $50 million during the time he owned it.
The rise and fall of fortunes was an often repeated story in Park City. So too was the story of fortunes missed. Solon Spiro was a German Jewish emigrant who came to Park City in 1894 to work in his uncle's mercantile store. After saving some money, Spiro invested in local mines but became best known for an ill-fated tunnel to drain water and facilitate the movement of ore out of the mines. It was only after Spiro sold the tunnel to the Silver King that the new owners discovered a silver lode there that eventually yielded three million dollars worth of high grade silver. The Sliver King became the premier mine in this area, and partners Thomas Kearns, David Keith, James Ivers, and A.B. Emery accumulated an enormous amount of wealth.

Mining prices started to decline during the Great Depression in 1929. The last year of any mining activity in Park City was 1982.