First Mine Producing Paying Ore in Alta - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

Discovery of silver ore in early 1860's led to settlement of Alta which attained a population of 5,000 with stores, hotels, 3 breweries, 6 sawmills, 1 newspaper and a mule-drawn railroad. Original town to the south, twice destroyed by avalanches and fires. Boothill contains 110 men killed in gunfights and 140 by snowslides. To the north is one entrance to famous Emma Mine, first to produce paying ore in this area, located in 1866 by Woodman, Chisholm, Woodhill and Reich. Ski resort pioneered by George Watson who donated his mining claims to U.S. Forest Service. Alta now world-famous for its powder snow skiing.

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