"To Make a Pure Resort": The Conflict Between Temperance and Profit at the Saltair Resort Under the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Summary

This is a poster submission presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 1893 the Saltair resort was built on the shores of the Great Salt Lake and attracted visitors from across the state of Utah. Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which was heavily influenced by the temperance movement, the question of whether alcohol should be served was a controversial subject for owners and visitors alike. The Church wanted a wholesome resort where families could relax in peace away from alcoholic influences yet were also concerned that banning alcohol would result in the loss of profits. Despite this controversy and the hesitancy of the LDS owners to sell alcohol, evidence of alcohol consumption is prevalent in the archaeological record. In this poster I use spatial analysis to examine the role of alcohol at Saltair and the spaces in which it was consumed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2022 SHA Poster Submissions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2022

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology