Overview

Golden City, Pedro Creek. Panoramic view of large vegetable gardens with log cabins and tents. The first creek where gold in economic quantities was discovered in the Tanana.

      The search for gold brought hundreds of people to undeveloped areas all around Alaska. Claims were staked. Location notices were written and records had to be legally filed. Towns sprung up almost overnight to begin to provide the supplies, communications and legal services for the local miners. Conditions changed rapidly in the boom towns depending on the location of the gold fields, the terrain and the geographic importance of the town site.

     Let's explore what it was like to live in a mining camp or a boom town during the Alaska gold rush era (1880-1914). We will piece together stories using maps, diaries, and documents that have survived for nearly 100 years.

• How is a boom town born?
• What services did people need?
• Was there a lot of crime?

Overview I How is a boom town born?
What services did people need? I Was there a lot of crime?

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Alaska's Gold was developed through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission by the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development.  © 1999.  All rights reserved.   Alaska Gold Themes written by Cristine Crooks, Alaska Consultants in Education.  Alaska's Gold Themes website developed by WEBDesign.