The Independence Mine Story
Hardrock Gold in Alaska
Pictured above are a few of the buildings from Independence Mine.
Located high in the Talkeetna Mountains, just 68 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, is the Independence Mine State Historical Park.
The park is filled with spectacular scenery, mountain vistas, and a fascinating history.
In 1896 gold was first discovered in Willow Creek, located in the Talkeetna Mountains.
In 1904, Robert Lee Hatcher staked a hard rock gold claim in some quartz gold ledges high in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Hard Rock Cafe’- No
Hardrock Mining - Yes
Lode, which rhymes with “road,” is gold, or hardrock, that is found in bedrock or in a mineral vein. Miners had to dig tunnels, crush the rock, and hope to recover the gold.
Hatcher Pass
Picture of Hatcher Pass by Millere19
Notice the small road in the picture above?
To even get to the gold in the Talkeetna Mountains, a pass, now called Hatcher Pass, was used.
Robert Hatcher used the pass and called the place where he found gold the Independence Mine.
Other miners followed, and some of their mines were the Lucky Shot, the Maybel, and the Skyscraper. There were many more.
Hatcher Sells Some
At one point, Hatcher sold one-fourth of his claim to a local Knik, Alaska, merchant named Orville George Herning. The price was $1,500 in cash and the rest in grub.
A Very Productive Hardrock Mine
Later on, the Independence Mine became the second most productive hard mine in Alaska.
The most productive was the Alaska Juneau, or the AJ Mine, which was also one of the largest in the world. The AJ Mine was located in what is now downtown Juneau, Alaska, near Gold Creek. Part of the town of Juneau sits on waste rock from the mine.
At the peak of its operation, the Independence Mine had over 200 employees. There were 16 buildings connected by wooden tunnels.
From 1934 to 1951, the Independence Mine operation included 12 miles of tunnels that yielded almost $18 million in gold.
Yes, You Can Share This Edition
And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will buy you your very own gold mine… well, it could happen.
Skiing at Independence Mine
From 1960 into the 1970s, the Independence Mine Ski Resort was in operation.
Mike of Alaska Stories remembers skiing at the mine:
“In the 1960s the drive up Hatcher Pass to the ski resort was scary.
The road was steep and barely wide enough for two lanes. And the snow was very deep.
The ski resort used a former Independence Mine bunkhouse as the lodge and dining room. Rooms for overnight stays were located upstairs.
I went there with Julian Maule and his wife, Catherine. Julian had started the Double Musky Inn located in Girdwood, Alaska and he loved to ski. Julian also took along his accordion, and that night he entertained everyone in the lodge.
The next morning I got up early, enjoyed a great breakfast in the lodge, and then spent the day skiing.
A rope tow took us to the top of the hill, where the view was incredible.
At one point when I got to the top of the hill, I looked up and saw a remarkable sight. There was a metal cable strung between two mountain peaks, and a man was suspended from the cable in a big bucket. He was moving slowly from one peak to the other. I think he was a miner still working his claim. Wow.
I also saw the United States Army Biathlon Team using the Independence Mine area as a training ground for cross-country skiing.”
Robert Lee Hatcher
Robert Lee Hatcher went on to make other major Alaska strikes in the Willow Creek district and on the Kenai Peninsula.
He was also known to travel on horseback or on foot with his dog“ Blue”, as he went about what he loved, searching for his next lode strike.
Later, during World War II, gold mines were closing because the United States had reclassified gold mines as non-essential to the war effort.
Today, you can visit the Independence Mine State Historical Park and take a look at the remaining buildings of what was once a working gold mine. It’s a beautiful area of Alaska and well worth a visit.
BONUS
You can learn more about Robert Lee Hatcher.
Take a look at the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame and discover.
Contact Mike and Mary
Imagine how hard it must have been to haul all that lumber and equipment up Hatcher Pass when they were first developing those gold mines.
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Until next time
Mike and Mary
Alaska Stories