Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

90  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

l Independence Mine State Historical Park

Most people associate gold mining in Alaska with the
placer gold (see p57) diggings in the Klondike. However,
starting in 1906, a gold-bearing quartz lode was being tapped
in the Talkeetna Mountains. Two mines were established
in the scenic mountain valley of the Little Susitna River,
the Alaska Free Gold Mine on Skyscraper Mountain and the
Independence Mine on Granite Mountain. In 1938, the two
were merged into the Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining
Company. Although the mines were producing large amounts
of gold, the activity was deemed non-essential during World
War II, and after the war, government restrictions on private
ownership of gold spelled the end of the mine. The site was Mine buildings scattered across
designated a State Historical Park in the late 1970s. Fishhook Valley

. Bunk Houses
Three of the larger buildings
at Independence Mine
served as bunk houses.
One was built in 1939 and
functioned as a supply
warehouse, engineering
office, and school. A small,
well-appointed building
nearby had self-contained
housing units for top
mine officials.
Key
1 The New Bunk House was 4 The Administrative Building
built in 1940 to accommodate was used as an office, storeroom, Exploring the Mine
50 people. It also contained and bunk house during an To fully explore the park’s historic
rooms used for classes and attempt to reopen the mine buildings and ruins will take two
for screening films. in 1946. to three hours. The Main Trail is
2 The Manager’s House was 5 Mechanical and repair shops an easy, level route that begins
constructed in 1939 to house housed plumb ing, carpentry, and at the Manager’s House and
the mine manager’s family and electrical operations. loops past the Mess Hall,
guests. Today, the distinctive 6 The Assay Office now houses Administrative Building, and
building serves as the park’s the site museum. Bunk Houses, with a short
Visitor Center and administrative 7 An ore conveyor brought detour to the Museum (Assay
headquarters. ore into the mill where it was Office). The more challenging
3 The New Mess Hall, sorted and crushed to extract 20-minute Hard Rock Trail climbs
constructed in 1941, had a the gold. the tundra-covered hillside to an
well-equipped kitchen, bakery, 8 The Hard Rock Trail leads over look near the Water Tunnel
butchery, scullery, and a dining to a park overlook near the Water Portal and Mine Shops. Guided
hall that seated 160 people. Tunnel Portal. tours of the mine last between
60 and 90 minutes.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p242 and pp250–51

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