Alaska encompasses a long line of incredible history, from the carving of valuable artifacts by Alaskan natives to the world-famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, it is a land rich with wonderfully unique traditions. At the forefront of Alaskan history lies the story of the Klondike Gold Rush, a time when the prospect of striking gold inspired a massive migration to America’s 49th state.
The existence of gold in Alaska was a well-kept secret long before the
Klondike Gold Rush. While many people believe 1896 to mark the first major discovery of gold in Alaska, many natives as well as Russian
and American miners were already well aware of valuable minerals hiding beneath the snow. While it wasn’t seen as a valuable
commodity to some of the Alaskan natives, miners were quietly striking gold around Juneau, Wrangell, Sitka, Fortymile, and Circle City.
George Carmack’s discovery of gold in August of 1896 launched the epic beginnings of the Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike River, a tributary of the Yukon River that flows through Alaska and Canada, was the site of the initial finding, specifically in a section known as Rabbit Creek. Carmack was taking a rest while traveling with his wife, brother, and nephew when he accidentally stumbled upon something sparkling in the water. The family staked their claims on the creek the very next day.
It wasn’t long before the news of Carmack’s discovery made its way to nearby mining cities where miners quickly abandoned earlier claims and made a run to the Klondike and Yukon rivers. Dawson City saw a sudden boom in population among hopefuls in search of wealth soon thereafter.
News of the gold rush didn’t reach
a global scale until 1897, a year after its initial discovery. An estimated 100,000 people traveled to the Klondike; however, less than
half of them were actually able to stake a claim as a result of dying from difficult travel conditions, while others arrived too late and
remaining claim space was already saturated. Through 1896 and 1897, approximately $2,800,000 was generated in gold production.
Alaska’s initial purchase from Russia for $7.2 million was viewed as problematic for the United States. The country was in a depression that was quickly transformed by the expanding Alaskan gold rush. As a result, the nation’s economy made a weighty recovery. It also spawned further development of the territory for an even greater economic impact. Once the Klondike rush died down around 1899, miners took to Nome where another rush quickly began. More gold was also discovered in Fairbanks, Kantishna, and Iditarod in the early 1900s.
The Klondike Gold Rush brought forth an estimated $300 million in gold by 1907, which by today’s standards would be
closer to about $1 billion. Much of Alaska’s gold exploration ended a decade after Carmack’s discovery; however, there is still gold to be found there even today. The
largest nugget ever discovered in Alaska took place in the town of Ruby in 1998, weighing an astounding 24.5 pounds.
Today, gold nuggets are still available for
discovery or purchase in the state of Alaska. Many people still travel from across the world in hopes of finding a sizable chunk or two through a method known as gold panning. Panning can be conducted
everywhere from the Pedro Dome to Nome Creek to several state parks including Denali, Chugach, and Independence Mine. Gold enthusiasts also like to visit local shops in search of unique Alaskan gold nugget rings and other fine jewelry containing the precious mineral.
Alaska Jewelry is your #1 online source for
the world’s finest natural gold jewelry and other unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Since 1990, Alaska Jewelry has proudly served clients with stellar “hometown” customer
service and rare gifts native to the state of Alaska. Shop for everything from women’s and men’s wedding bands to beautiful wildlife sculptures and much more.
Find a wide array of innovative jewelry online at http://www.alaskajewelry.com, or call toll free for more information at 1-800-360-5744.