The James E. Girdwood Story
The Alaska gold rush and a ski resort.
Sunrise, Alaska during the gold rush.
Our Story Begins with the Dream of Gold
In May 1896, James E. Girdwood boarded the steamer ship L.J. Perry to cross the still ice-filled Cook Inlet.
His destination was the gold rush towns of Hope and Sunrise.
Note:
The Captain of the steamer was Austin “Cap”: Lathrop. The same man who would later build the Empress movie theatre and the 4th Avenue Theatre in Anchorage, Alaska.
Destination, Glacier City
Pictured above is the Crow Creek mine in Glacier City.
After spending some time in Hope and Sunrise, Girdwood decided to go across Cook Inlet to a tiny settlement called Glacier City. The settlement was a trading and transportation route located up in the Chugach mountain range.
James Girdwood put up a cabin in Glacier City and began looking for gold.
Crow Creek
By 1900, Girdwood had four claims on Crow Creek near Glacier City.
In the years that followed, his claims were bringing in more than $106,000 dollars a year.
Gold Buys a Title
Now if you have never heard of Glacier City… here’s why.
Because of James Girdwood’s success, he was given the honorary title of “Colonel”. And the other miners in Glacier City, decided to rename the settlement, “Girdwood”.
For years, the settlement of Girdwood continued to be a supply camp for many gold miners with claims to the creeks that feed into Cook Inlet’s Turnagain Arm.
The Alaska Railroad
In 1915, the Alaska Railroad came to the town of Girdwood.
Share this Edition and Strike Gold
You can easily share this information-packed edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with friends and family. And when you do, they will be so happy that they will buy you a gold mine… well, it could happen.
Click on the following link:
Hollywood Comes to Girdwood
In the photo above, notice that Austin E. Lathrop, who once was the Captain of the steam ship L.J. Perry (that took James Girdwood across Cook Inlet in 1896), was the President of the Alaska Moving Picture Corporation.
Captain “Cap” Austin E. Lathrop, who also built the 4th Avenue Theater, the Impress, and the Denali theater in Anchorage, wanted to produce movies in Alaska. So he put together the Alaska Moving Pictures Corp. and even built a studio in downtown Anchorage. That building later became the Anchorage Community Center.
As it turned out, the Alaska Moving Pictures Corp only produced one movie.
“The Chechahcos” was shot in 1923 with a budget of $75,000, which wouldn't pay for catering on a big budget Hollywood movie these days.
The movie was shot on location in Denali Park, and Girdwood, Alaska, where they used Bartlett Glacier to recreate the Chilkoot Pass Gold Rush trail.
Gold Takes a Toll
Now back to James T. Girdwood. Over time, Girdwood’s mining operations became too demanding. So, in the mid-1920s, he left Alaska to return to his home in New Jersey, where he passed away in 1928.
BONUS
Would you like to know more about James Girdwood?
Take a look at Girdwood on Crow Creek and enjoy.
Not Much Happening Here
By the 1930s, the mines had closed and there wasn’t much happening in Girdwood.
In the photo above is Girdwood in 1948
Wait a Minute – We’re Not Done Yet
The mountains around Girdwood and the valley between them were a great place for a ski resort.
So, in 1954, the Alyeska Ski Corporation was formed.
In 1960, the first chairlift and Day Lodge were built and Girdwood was transformed into a destination for great skiing.
The 1964 Earthquake
On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, a 9.2 earthquake shook Alaska for 5 minutes.
During the quake, the land along Turnagain Arm, sank 6.6 feet, putting it well below the high tide of Cook Inlet. As a result, the original town site of Girdwood, which was located directly along Turnagain Arm, had to be moved farther up into the valley.
Salt water from Cook Inlet killed the trees, resulting in a Ghost Forest in Girdwood Valley.
A Girdwood Favorite Known World-Wide
In the picture above is the sign that tells you that you have arrived.
People come from all over the world to dine and enjoy some time in the Double Musky Inn, located in Girdwood. It’s also a favorite dining destination for the people of Anchorage.
BONUS
Here’s your chance to discover how a stick of dynamite helped create this world-famous Inn. The story was written by Mike of Anchorage Memories.
Take a look at The Double Musky Inn and enjoy.
Did You Notice?
We have not included a picture of James E. Girdwood… The reason is that we couldn’t find one. Perhaps he was camera shy.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Did you enjoy learning about James Girdwood and how a town in Alaska became a world-famous Ski Resort?
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Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Alaska Stories
As a kid I heard stories about a night when a hungry bear was drawn to the lingering odor of the bacon dinner that James Girdwood had prepared and enjoyed. It made three attempts to break into his cabin through a window or a door and each time it tried James fired a shot from his .44. After a night of sleeping through the interruptions, he ventured outside and, there under the door and window were three dead black bears.