Porcupine, Alaska facts for kids
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Porcupine District
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A 1910 view of Porcupine
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Boundaries of Porcupine District
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| Location | 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Mile 35 of Haines Highway, across Klehini River |
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| Nearest city | Haines, Alaska |
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000358 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1976 |
Porcupine is a fascinating ghost town located in Haines Borough, Alaska. It's about one mile southwest of Mile 35 on the Haines Highway, right across the Klehini River. This area became a busy spot when gold was found along Porcupine Creek in 1898. At first, people only stayed for a short time, but over the years, more lasting buildings were added. Today, Porcupine is a quiet place, but it holds many stories from its gold mining past.
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What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a place that used to be a town or community but is now mostly empty. These towns often become "ghosts" when the main reason people lived there disappears. For Porcupine, that reason was gold mining. When the gold ran out, or it became too hard to find, people moved away.
Ghost towns are like time capsules. They show us how people lived and worked in the past. They can also be a bit spooky, with old buildings slowly falling apart.
The Gold Rush Begins
The story of Porcupine started in 1898. That year, people discovered gold along Porcupine Creek. This was during a time when many people were rushing to Alaska and the Yukon to find gold. News of gold discoveries spread quickly.
Miners came to Porcupine hoping to strike it rich. They set up camps and started digging for gold. The community grew as more people arrived.
Early Days of Porcupine
Life in early Porcupine was tough. There were no permanent homes at first. Miners lived in tents or simple cabins. They worked hard, often in difficult weather conditions.
The community was seasonal, meaning people came and went. They might stay for a few months during the warmer weather. Then they would leave when winter made mining too hard.
Building a Community
Even though many people were temporary, some started to build more lasting structures. These buildings were needed for shops, homes, and places to store equipment. Over time, Porcupine began to look more like a small town.
The Sunshine Mining Company
A big change happened between 1927 and 1936. During this time, a company called the Sunshine Mining Company became the largest mining operation in the area. They brought more organized mining methods.
With the Sunshine Mining Company, more permanent buildings were constructed. These included offices, workshops, and better homes for the workers. This period was when Porcupine was at its busiest.
Porcupine Today
Today, Porcupine is a quiet place. When it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, about 25 structures were still standing. These buildings were in different stages of decay. They show the history of the mining community.
The Porcupine District is important because it helps us remember the gold rush era in Alaska. It's a reminder of the hard work and dreams of the people who lived there. It helps us understand how these mining towns grew and then faded away.
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