Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society

Mission Statement

The Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society strives to honor, collect, preserve, and share the natural and cultural history of Big Cottonwood Canyon in order to provide a sense of place and public involvement that will promote stewardship and appreciation of this canyon.

ARCHIVES

The Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society has developed an inventory and description of materials (also known as a “Finding Aid”) for our three collections of historical archives as a means for the public to gain access to these histories in a method recommended by the Utah Division of Records and Archives.

Tales from the Wasatch

The Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society will be adding to the Tales of the Wasatch as more stories and material are submitted. Enjoy!

• A Big Hello

• A powerful Story

• Brighton’s Camp

• Hermit of the Wasatch

• Maxfield Mine

• Knudsen’s Corner

• Mining Mania

• Solitude Mountain Resort

• The Balsam Inn

• The Granite Mill

• Settling of Brighton

• The Old Brighton Village Store

• Roy Newman Blind Miner

• Ski Touring in the Wasatch

• Larch Tree History

• Lake Solitude Avalanche - 1911

• Brighton Ski Resort

ADDITIONAL HISTORY PROJECTS

Peruse these additional historical research projects by members of the Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society!

• Overview of the History of the Community of Brighton by Doug Fry

• Balsam hill cabin history by Rod Morris

• the Brighton pine bugle: the people’s clarion: 1936 issues compiled by rod morris

Request for Historical Material

A volunteer committee was formed to develop an archival library of canyon history for collecting, preserving and cataloging archival materials pertaining to all aspects of life in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is important to note that although we have collected important historical materials since our inception, it was a monumental effort to determine just how to properly handle, catalogue, index and store these materials in an archival manner.

To this end, all society personnel listed on our home page have been taking classes and courses through the Utah Division of Records and Archives, located at 346 S Rio Grande St, SLC.  We feel it tremendously critical that all materials donated to us are carefully handled and dealt with in a scholarly manner.

We will happily archive copies of photos (please identify persons and places), books, stories, and histories from your family and friends. To donate for preservation, please download the donor agreement here and return it with your materials to a member of the Historical Society. Contact information below.

Please share this information with those who are no longer in the canyon but remember a strong history here.

Thank you,

Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society
8021 Brighton Loop Road
Brighton, UT  84121

435.714.2121   Jolene Despain, email Jolene
801.557.9411   Doug Fry, email Doug
801.819.9218   Steve Jorgensen, email Steve
801.756.3969   Brooke Derr, email Brooke
435.940.9099   Barbara Cameron, email Barbara