Near Palmer in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Lodes of Gold in Hatcher Pass
Gold Rush Centennial
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024
1. Lodes of Gold in Hatcher Pass Marker
Robert Hatcher discovered rich gold-streaked quartz veins in the rugged Talkeetna Mountains 10 miles northwest of here in 1906. After additional discoveries, hard-rock mining propelled Hatcher Pass to second in production of lode gold in Alaska.
Seeking the Source
Prospectors discovered gold in the creeks at the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in 1897 and formed the Willow Creek Mining District a year later. While others worked the creek gravel 39-year old Robert Lee Hatcher, a veteran prospector from Texas, followed the trail of gold up the creeks looking for its source in hard-rock veins. In 1906, he staked a hard-rock gold claim on the east side of the pass that now bears his name.
Rich Enough?
In the following decade, other prospectors discovered more gold veins on the high ridges in the Hatcher Pass area. Contending with harsh weather and rugged terrain, they drove tunnels and did other backbreaking work to verify that their claims were rich enough to bring in the expensive equipment necessary to mine and process ore. Trails and roads were built to haul machinery and supplies to the mines.
this page online
Going for the Lode
Lode mining in the Willow Creek district quickly overshadowed placer mining. By 1918, Hatcher Pass was the richest hard-rock area in Southcentral Alaska. The ore in some Hatcher Pass claims assayed ten times higher than ore at hard-rock mines in Southeast Alaska. Hatcher Pass production peaked in the 1930s. Total production is estimated at 623,874 ounces. Independence Mine State Historical Park is one of the few remaining examples of a large-scale lode mining operation in Hatcher Pass.
[Photo captions, clockwise from left center, read]
One of the Martin Mine Portals, 1916
Entrance to the Mable Mine, 3,300 feet above the mill and camp
The Alaska Free Gold Mining Company Mill, 1913
Erected 1997.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 61° 37.914′ N, 149° 7.156′ W. Marker is near Palmer, Alaska, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It is on Glenn Highway (State Highway 1) 0.2 miles
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024
2. Lodes of Gold in Hatcher Pass Marker
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, in the Mat-Su Valley, and in Southcentral Alaska. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Colony Park (approx. 2.2 miles away); Engine #5 (approx. 2.2 miles away); Matanuska Colony Project (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Matanuska Colony Project (approx. 2.3 miles away); Wasilla - Palmer Sister Cities (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Matanuska Colony Project (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Matanuska Colony Project (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Matanuska Colony Project (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmer.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
