Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Gold Dredge No. 8

Gold Stream Valley 1928 - 1959

— National Historic Mechancial Engineering Landmark —

Gold Dredge Number 8, Gold Stream Valley Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Fehring, August 30, 2017

1. Gold Dredge Number 8, Gold Stream Valley Marker

Inscription. Dredges were brought in to mine gold-bearing deposits in the Fairbanks mining district after 1920. This bucket-line or ladder dredge has 68 buckets, each with a capacity of 6 cubit feet. The bucket line was driven by a 150 horsepower motor that enabled excavation to depths of 28 feet. The gold-bearing gravel was sorted and washed on the dredge.

Dredging became possible in the 1920's after the United States Melting, Refining and Mining Company (USSR&M) brought water to the area via the 90-mile Davidson Ditch. The dredge was built by Bethlehem Steel's Shipbuilding Division in Pennsylvania and assembled in the Fox area in 1928. It operated each year until 1959.

Erected 1986 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (Marker Number 83.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks series list.

Location. 64° 56.276′ N, 147° 39.193′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. Marker can be reached from Old Steese Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11755 Old Steese Highway, Fairbanks AK 99712, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pipeline History (approx. 0.9 miles away); James A. Maple (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pipeline Facts (approx. 0.9 miles away); Immaculate Conception Church (approx. 6.7 miles away); Wickersham Cabin (approx. 6.7 miles away); Barnette's Landing (approx. 6.8 miles away); Lacey Street Theater (1939) (approx. 6.8 miles away); The Founding of Fairbanks (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.

More about this marker. The marker is attached to one of the steel buckets displayed adjacent to the gold dredge. It is located just to the right of the gang-way to board the dredge.

Regarding Gold Dredge No. 8. A preserved example of a historical gold dredge as employed world-wide to mechanically extract gold from a stream-bed. Also known as a 'placer dredge.' These dredges were an efficient and economical means of extracting large quantities of gold (and other ores) from steams.

The dredge is open to the public and tours are available for a small fee.

Also see . . . Gold Dredge No.8. Come to Fairbanks. The Gold Dredge website. (Submitted on December 23, 2019.)

Gold Dredge Number 8, Gold Stream Valley, Fairbanks, AL image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Fehring, August 30, 2017

2. Gold Dredge Number 8, Gold Stream Valley, Fairbanks, AL

View of gold dredge no. 8, taken in 2017. The bucket ladder can be clearly shown.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2019, by Thomas Fehring of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on January 8, 2020, by Thomas Fehring of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on December 23, 2019, by Thomas Fehring of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on December 22, 2019, by Thomas Fehring of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.