Joe Juneau and the Alaska Gold Rush

The quest for gold that began at Sutter's Mill quickly spread north, led by prospectors with gold pans. The first big gold discoveries in the north occurred in British Columbia. By 1879, the first gold mining and milling operation in Alaska had been established near Sitka by German engineer George Pilz. It quickly proved a failure and Pilz sought new opportunities. He had heard two reports that suggested there could be gold near the future city of Juneau. One came from naturalist John Muir, among the earliest tourists to visit the glacier now called Mendenhall. But it was an important leader from an Auke Tlingit village who led the gold seekers to Juneau. His name was Kawa.ée. Pilz hired a pair of prospectors newly arrived from the gold fields of British Columbia, Joseph Juneau and Richard Harris, grubstaked them and sent them to meet Kawa.ée on the Gastineau Channel. The Tlingit natives took them to the place now called Silver Bow Basin. According to Harris, "We examined several quartz lodes that cropped out on the edges of the gulch and I broke some with a hammer and Juneau and myself could hardly believe our eyes. We knew it was gold, but so much and not in particles; streaks running through the rock and little lumps as large as peas or beans." It was the first big gold strike in Alaska. Word of the discovery quickly spread. The Juneau gold rush was underway.

[@GlitchanBlack]

Who came here from Aunt Phil's Trunk Alaska History Unit 4?

[@jessicaeison]

I did lol

[@magicM526]

My history ❤️❤️❤️

[@sdriscoll1757]

I see my old apartment!

[@michaelzuniga8344]

Thank you