El Dorado Gold Mine facts for kids
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The El Dorado Gold Mine is a famous gold mine and a fun place to visit near Fairbanks, Alaska. It is located in a small community called Fox. This mine started way back in the early 1900s. Over time, it changed from just a mine into a cool place where people can learn about gold mining and take tours. The El Dorado Gold Mine is owned by a company called Alaska Riverways, Inc.. You can find it about 10 miles north of Fairbanks on the Elliot Highway.
Contents
History of the El Dorado Gold Mine
Early Days of Gold Mining
The El Dorado Gold Mine began as a "placer mining" claim. This means miners looked for gold in loose sand and gravel, often in riverbeds. Two brothers from Fairbanks, known as the "Swede Brothers," started working here in the early 1900s. Records from that time were not always clear. Because of this, we do not know exactly who owned the mine for many years. We do know that the mine was sold to different owners several times.
Challenges During World War II
The middle of the 20th century was a challenging time for the El Dorado mine. Gold mining had to stop during World War II. This was ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also, the government set a fixed price for gold. This made it very hard for small mines to earn enough money. Mining became less and less profitable. Because of these reasons, operations at the El Dorado mine almost completely stopped.
From Mine to Tourist Attraction
Later, a gold miner from Fairbanks named Andrew Wescott bought the mine. He realized that mining for gold alone in Alaska was no longer very profitable. So, he decided to change the El Dorado mine. He started rebuilding it as a place for visitors to Alaska to learn about gold mining. The mine became very popular with tourists. Soon, Mr. Wescott could not handle all the visitors by himself.
In 1990, Mr. Wescott teamed up with the Binkley family from Fairbanks. Together, they worked to make the mine even better for visitors. A few years later, Mr. Wescott sold his part of the mine to the Binkley family.
Visiting the Mine Today
Today, the El Dorado Gold Mine is open from May to September. They offer tours of the mines and train rides several times each day. It is a great way to see how gold was mined in Alaska and learn about its history.
