Wasilla Gold Mines

I made reservations at the Best Western Lake Lucille in Wasilla. Dee and I joked that the hotels were getting better as the trip went on. This Best Western was indeed luxurious after our experiences in Bird Creek and Seward. Our room overlooked the lake, with sliding glass doors to a back deck. There was a July 4th company picnic going on and we could see people tossing frisbees, picnicking, and playing games. It was a little overcast when we arrived, and a bit chilly too.

After grabbing a bite to eat in the restaurant on the premises (good food but very poor service), we took off for Hatchers Pass and the Independence Gold Mine.

From the Alaska National History Association website:

Independence Mine State Historical Park, situated in the Talkeetna Mountains, offers the chance to see the remainders of a once-thriving gold mining operation. The machinery and buildings abandoned by the roughly 200 miners who lived there are a historical landmark in a state shaped by gold rushes. Visitors will see bunkhouses, warehouses, offices, the "new" mess hall, an apartment building, the now collapsed mill and the tunnel entrance.

Although most people first think of places such as the Klondike, Nome, Fairbanks and Iditarod country, one of Alaska's greatest gold producers was located just northeast of Anchorage. In 1886, even before a quarter-million gold seekers flocked north to the Klondike and Nome, prospectors discovered gold in the streams of the Susitna and Matanuska basins.

The rough-textured placer gold they found indicated a large source was nearby. Hard rock (lode) gold was found in the quartz veins of the Talkeetna Mountains. The first lode-mining claim in Hatcher Pass was staked in 1906 and was soon followed by others. Eventually companies merged to pool resources and reduce expenses.

In 1938 the Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining Company bought up two major mines, creating the Independence Mine. In its peak year it produced 34,416 ounces of gold. Today that amount would be worth $17,208,000.

When the United States entered World War II, the mine was faced with a ban on gold mining and eventually, complete closure. Even after the wartime ban was lifted in 1946, gold could only be sold to the government at an unprofitable fixed rate. In 1951 Independence Mine was closed.

The mine was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Six years later 271 acres of land were donated to the State of Alaska to create the Independence Mine State Historical Park.

The drive up to the Gold Mine was spectacular, and the higher we got in elevation, the less clouds there were. When we finally arrived at Independence Gold Mine ($5/car entry fee), the sun was shining and it was much warmer. We really enjoyed exploring the old ruins and getting a glimpse into the life of a gold mining community.

	An old bunkhouse	Reflection in a bunkhouse window	Beautiful Diane
Remnants of the old rail bed	Panorama of Hatchers Pass

We had a good night of sleeping, but were up - yet again - early. I was looking forward to getting home to my own bed, and my husband (who I missed more than anything). I had a lot of adventures planned for us in Fairbanks too, so this trip was far from over. We took advantage of the food voucher and enjoyed some breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Again good food, but poor service. Perhaps they were short-handed because of the holiday?

Onward to Fairbanks ==>