Gold scale for weighing gold nuggets. Digitized photo taken at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Gold scale for weighing gold nuggets.
Digitized photo taken at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Gold was discoverd in Silver Bow Basin and gold Creek by DickHarris and Joe Juneau in 1880. The town grew and was first calledHarrisburg, but later named Juneau. Approximately 180 to 200 milliondollars were taken from the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine (A-J Mine)which operated until World War II, in 1944.
The Treadwell Mine was founded in Douglas, across Gastineau Channelfrom the A-J Mine, in 1882. It was the largest gold mine in theworld until a cave-in flooded it in 1917. It never re-opened.
The Klondike Stampede, though it was entirely in Canada, itdramaticly helped alaska's economy. Before the Klondike, Alaskaearned $103,000,000 .00 in gold. When gold was found in the Klondike,some 80,000 adventerers ventured north to Dawson City. 30,000of them actually arrived there. The other 20,000 were scatteredall over, from The Bering Sea to MacKenize River in Canada.
The Klondike Stampede began on July 15, 1897. If not for the Klondikegold rush, the wealth wold've been discovered years later.
George Carmack was the person to strike pay dirt on Bonanza Creekon August 16,1896. This gold rush was the biggest gold rush ofthe year.
In the time period of 1897 through 1904 more than a hundred milliondollers in gold was taken from the Klondike.
In the year 1899 gold was discovered on Anvil Creek and SnowGulch. The rush began the next year in 1900 and 40,000 peoplecame. A tent city grew up on the beach. This gold rush spreadover Seward Penninsula Another gold rush town was Council. $130million in gold was taken from this area.
The booming town of Dawson deserted. Dust was collecting on thetables and chairs, and in the saloons. The Nome gold rush hadbegan. Stampeders headed north. Some 50,000 people started thetrail toward Nome, most turned back from the 3000 mile trek. Somewere rescued by indians, some left no trace.
Some wrote stories, and poems about the gold rushes, some painted,and sketched. The gold rushes would never be forgotten, becauseof the wealth of them, and the harshness of the weather duringthem. One such talented writer that critiqued the gold rusheswas Mr. Jack London.**
