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 State of Alaska > Natural Resources > Parks and Outdoor Recreation |
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Independence Mine State Historical Park |
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GOLD! A magic word
that time cannot tarnish; a soft metal with the strength to forge history.
Gold was the magnet that drew thousands of adventurers to the last frontier.
Though most Alaskans recognize that gold played an important part in Alaska's
history, they normally think first of Nome, Fairbanks, or the Iditarod
country. But even before a quarter-of-a-million gold seekers began their
stampede into those famous areas, gold was discovered just southeast of
Anchorage in 1886. From there prospectors spread into the Susitna and
Matanuska river basins, testing the creeks in the nearby mountains.
They found hard rock (lode) gold scattered in quartz veins throughout
the granite in the Talkeetna Mountains. These veins were created by
hydrothermal action that filled fractures in the rock. Erosion loosened
flakes of gold, and flowing water eventually washed the gold-bearing
gravel into a stream. Throughout the history of gold mining, placer
mining has preceded lode mining, and this area was no exception. The
rough-textured gold found in the bottom of pans and sluice boxes hinted
at something more: a nearby source, or mother lode.
Robert Lee Hatcher discovered and staked the first lode gold claim in the Willow Creek Valley in September 1906, and others soon followed. But lode mining was expensive for an individual operator; it required elaborate tunnels and heavy equipment, so companies merged to pool resources and reduce expenses. What is now called Independence Mine was once two mines: The Alaska Free Gold (Martin) Mine on Skyscraper Mountain, and Independence Mine on Granite Mountain. In 1938 the two were bought together under one company, the Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining Company (APC). With a block of 83 mining claims, APC became the largest producer in the Willow Creek Mining District. The claims covered more than 1,350 acres and included 27 structures. In its peak year, 1941, APC employed 204 men, blasted nearly a dozen miles of tunnels, and produced 34,416 ounces of gold worth $1,204,560; today $17,208,000. Twenty-two families lived in nearby Boomtown, with eight children attending the Territorial School in the new bunkhouse. By 1942, the United States had entered World War II, and the War Production Board designated gold mining as nonessential to the war effort. Gold mining throughout the United States came to a halt, but Independence Mine continued to operate because of the presence of sheelite. Sheelite occurs in some of the quartz veins along with gold, and was a source of tungsten, a strategic metal. But because Independence Mine's scheelite production was low, the exemption was short-lived. In 1943, Independence Mine was ordered to close. 
The wartime ban was lifted in 1946, but gold mining was slow to recover.
After the war, gold could be sold only to the U.S. government at a fixed
rate of $35 per ounce. Postwar inflation raged, and gold mining became
an unprofitable venture. Finally, in January of 1951, after mining nearly
6 million dollars' worth of gold, Independence Mine was closed by APC,
and a chapter of Alaska's gold mining history came to an end. In 1974,
Independence Mine was entered into the National Register of Historic
Places, a list of cultural resources significant to American history.
In the late 1970's, 271 acres of land were donated to the Alaska Division
of Parks & Outdoor Recreation for establishment of Independence Mine
State Historical Park. On January 16, 1980, title to the acreage was
transferred to the State of Alaska.
Things to Do Learn what it was like to live and work in one of Alaska's largest gold mining camps. Begin your tour of the Independence Mine State Historical Park at the Mine Mangers's House, which houses the Visitor Center and museum. Inside you'll see displays about mining, natural history and the Independence Mine story. Take a self-guided interpretive tour through the mine camp. Sign up for a guided tour that takes you inside some of the mining camp's historic buildings. Pan for gold. It's allowed in the park with a pan and shovel only. Visit the Assay Office to view displays explaining assaying, retorting and other mining techniques.
Click here to see a map of the Independence Mine State Historical Park. Please Help Protect Our Parks  Artifacts should be left for others to enjoy. Alaska law prohibits the disturbance or removal of historical material from a state park.
 Road conditions
to Independence Mine State Historical Park are subject to weather. Check
conditions before attempting the drive between September 15 and May
30. The use of snow machines and off-road vehicles is prohibited within
the park.
Winter recreation opportunities include
sledding, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. The park is open year-round
to the public, however, the Visitor Center is closed during the winter
months.
Pets must be on a leash near developed facilities.
Please remember, pets can be annoying to others and frequently harass
wildlife.
Do not feed the wildlife. It is unhealthy
for them, and feeding ground squirrels can lead to serious bites.
Discharge of all weapons is prohibited at
Independence Mine State Historical Park.
Private property adjoins the park. Please
respect private property, historical structures, and artifacts found
throughout the area.
In Case of emergency
For a copy of this brochure, contact the DNR Public Information Center at dnr.pic@alaska.gov Return to top of page |
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Last updated on Monday, 31-Aug-2009 10:16:25 AKDT.
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