Glen & Kris

Independence Mine

This is the Independence Mine near Hatcher Pass in Alaska. Gold was discovered near here in 1886, but it wasn't until 1906 that the first mines in the area were opened. By 1938, this mine and the Alaska Free Gold Mine (on an adjacent mountain) were consolidated under the newly-formed Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining Company. They operated 83 claims over nearly 1,400 acres. In their busiest year — 1941 — they had over 200 employees and 22 families living on site. World War II shut down the mine because it was deemed not essential to the war effort. After the war, they reopened for a few years, but the government-regulated price of $35 an ounce for gold forced them to close by 1951. Here is a view from the mine looking back towards Palmer. This is the Matanuska River on the flats below the mine. <span class='myGreyFont'>[End of series. <a href='../index.html'>Return</a> to the Photos page.]</span>