Downtown in Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
The Early Gold Rush
1902 - 1909
| | Alaska Gold Rush Centennial | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
1. The Early Gold Rush Marker
Riverboats, bringing food and supplies to the miners on the creeks north of Fairbanks, plied the Chena River until the Tanana Valley Railroad was built in 1907.
To reach the gold-bearing gravels, early miners dug vertical shafts through 80-100 feet of permafrost, until they hit the lucrative stream beds on top of the bedrock. Millions of ounces of gold were sluiced out of the creeks by these early miners.
Gold discovered by Felix Pedro north of town in July 1902, changed the course of history for the Tanana Valley overnight.
By 1905, the Fairbanks Mining District supported 10,000 people, with gold mined on 1,500 creeks in the hills above the Chena River."
Today, three National Historic Districts remain at Chena Pump, Chatanika, and Ester. Many of the old trails and wagon roads leading to the creeks are still evident today.
Erected by Chena Riverfront Commission and Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1902.
Location. 64° 50.635′ N, 147° 43.36′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Downtown. It is on 1st Avenue west of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, and in Interior 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 walking distance of this marker: Life Along the Chena River (here, next to this marker); Joe Crosson (a few steps from this marker); The Founding of Fairbanks (within shouting distance of this marker); Aviation (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbanks waterfront, c. 1910 (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Commercial Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fairbanks-Valdez Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbanks Area Rotary Projects "Service Above Self" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
2. The Early Gold Rush Marker
in background
Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 258 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
