Sulzer, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sulzer
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Sulzer was a small community on the shore of Hetta Inlet on Prince of Wales Island.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Island | Prince of Wales Island |
| Founded by | William Sulzer |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (AKST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
Sulzer, Alaska is a ghost town located on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it is no longer an active community. Sulzer was once a busy place because of a large copper mine.
Contents
What Was Sulzer?
Sulzer was a small community built around a copper mine. It was located on the shore of Hetta Inlet. This area is part of the beautiful Tongass National Forest.
The Copper Mine
The main reason Sulzer existed was the copper mine, known as the Jumbo Mine. It was started by a man named William Sulzer. The mine was very important for Alaska.
- The Jumbo Mine was active from 1907 to 1918.
- It was operated by a company called the Alaska Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company.
- During its time, it was one of the biggest copper producers in Alaska.
Copper is a metal used for many things, like electrical wires and pipes. Finding a lot of copper meant the mine was very valuable.
Important People from Sulzer
Two important people connected to Sulzer were brothers, William and Charles Sulzer.
William Sulzer
William Sulzer was the person who started the copper mine in Sulzer. He helped create the community by bringing mining operations to the area.
Charles August Sulzer
Charles August Sulzer was William's brother. He was a politician who represented the Territory of Alaska in the United States Congress. This means he was chosen to speak for the people of Alaska in the national government.
Charles Sulzer lived in Sulzer for some time. He became ill in April 1919. He passed away while traveling on a boat to Ketchikan.
Why Did Sulzer Become a Ghost Town?
After the Jumbo Mine stopped operating in 1918, most people left Sulzer. Without the mine, there was no longer a reason for a large community to stay there. Over time, it became a ghost town, a quiet reminder of its mining past.
