Harding-Birch Lakes in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Alaska's Gold Rush Era

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2012

1. Alaska's Gold Rush Era Marker

Inscription. Gold discoveries brought Alaska and the Yukon to the attention of the world. A series of stampedes occurred over more than three decades. Drawn by dreams of gold, men and women from many places and all walks of life participated in an adventure that would change their lives. Only a few would become wealthy.

Early Discoveries Prospectors made the first significant gold discovery in Alaska at Juneau in 1880. This discovery encouraged others to look throughout Alaska and the Yukon for gold. The first strike in Alaska’s interior was along the Fortymile River in 1886. It was followed by discoveries on other Yukon River tributaries and the Kenai Peninsula. On August 16, 1886, George Carmack, Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie made the Klondike discovery in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

At Different Times and Places The Klondike discovery started a stampede to Dawson reminiscent of the California Gold Rush of 1849. Tens of thousands of people took ships north, then hiked the Chilkoot, White Pass, Valdez Glacier and other trails. Others traveled by boat up the Yukon River to the new gold field. By the time most reached the

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Klondike, the creeks had all been staked. Some of the stampeders prospected creeks in Alaska and made new strikes. The Nome, Fairbanks and Iditarod gold fields were the largest, but between 1896 and 1914 gold was found in hundreds of places around Alaska.

More than Mining The Alaska Gold Rush is a collection of the stories of people who were here and those who came. The U.S. Government expanded its activities, developing water and overland transportation routes and a communication system. Communities appeared seemingly overnight. Mining changed Alaska’s landscape. Tales of the people, places and events are unforgettably captured in adventure stories and poems.

Erected by The Gold Rush Centennial.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 64° 20.405′ N, 146° 51.908′ W. Marker is in Harding-Birch Lakes, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is on Richardson Highway (Alaska Route 2), on the right when traveling south. Marker is at a roadside pull-off

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2012

2. Alaska's Gold Rush Era Marker

overlooking the Tanana River, about 50 miles south of Fairbanks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11341 Richardson Hwy, Fairbanks AK 99701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: Tanana Valley Gold (here, next to this marker).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Welcome to Alaska's Gold. The discovery of gold brought adventurers, dreamers and schemers to Alaska. It's a great story! In fact, it's a lot of great stories. (Submitted on September 27, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The Gold Rush and Alaska. The role of gold in Alaska's past and present is

Tanana River, view northeast (toward Fairbanks), near marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2012

3. Tanana River, view northeast (toward Fairbanks), near marker

hard to overlook. There are evidences of it everywhere, in everything from events like Fairbanks Golden Days and Valdez Gold Rush Days, to hotels with names like Golden Nugget, Motherlode, Golden North, and Gold Miner's, to the gold exhibit in the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks and to gold nugget jewelry and painted goldpans in gift shops throughout the state. (Submitted on September 27, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region of the Yukon in northwestern Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold. (Submitted on September 27, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Tanana River overlook, southwest view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2012

4. Tanana River overlook, southwest view

Tanana River overlook, northeast view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2012

5. Tanana River overlook, northeast view

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,069 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 27, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.