The
Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers explored Independence Mine State Historical Park 23264 N Gold Chord Road Palmer, AK 99645 call 907.745.2827 for days and hours |
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| Independence Mine was one of 38 mines that operated in Hatcher Pass from around 1900 to the 1950's. The park includes about 20 buildings that were part of Independence Mine. Some of the building have been restored and can be toured. Obviously others have not. There were two hiking trails available on this date: Gold Mint Trail is 8 miles long, and Reed Lakes Trail is a good day hike or overnight destination. For the real adventurous, Bomber Glacier is just over the peaks surrounding the upper lake. None of these trails were suitable for the two RV Gypsies. | |
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Independence Mine State Historical Park is a former gold mining operation in the Talkeetna Mountains, across Hatcher Pass from Palmer, Alaska. The park covers 271 acres and features an abandoned mining building, old gold mining machinery, a museum, a visitor center and hiking trails. |
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1906, high on Skyscraper Park, Robert Lee Hatcher staked the area's
first hard-rock gold claim - gold contained in quartz veins within solid
rock-hard rock or lode gold. Hatcher's early discoveries would later become
part of the Independence Mine. By 1941, the Independence Mill,
Camp, and Mine employed 204 men. It was the second largest hard rock gold
producer in Willow Creek mining district, extracting over 181,000 ounces
of gold in the late 1970's. 271 acres of land, including the Independence
Mine camp was donated to the State of Alaska and in 1981, the Independence
Mine State Historical Park was dedicated. |
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See Lee Duquette get kissed by a wolf
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