Established after gold was discovered in 1905, remnants of old mines still pepper the landscape.
Visitors can explore abandoned mining equipment and even pan for gold in Moose Creek.
Girdwood, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, retains its rustic charm while offering modern amenities.
Menno Schaefer / Shutterstock.com
Visit the Seward Museum to delve into tales of prospectors and learn about the Iditarod Trails origins.
The Valdez Museum offers insights into the challenges faced by these early adventurers.
Visit the Sitka Historical Museum to uncover these narratives.
The entire town is a National Historic Landmark, with buildings dating back to the gold rush era.
The Eagle Historical Society & Museums offer a glimpse into the past.
Adjacent to the famed Kennecott Mines, McCarthy served as the leisure hub for miners.
Today, its dirt roads and wooden sidewalks invite visitors to step back in time.
The towering red mill buildings stand in stark contrast to the surrounding glaciers and mountains.
Guided tours reveal the secrets of this once-bustling operation.
Explore the scattered remains of cabins and mines while soaking in the solitude of the vast landscape.
The real hidden gem here is the opportunity to disconnect completely and immerse yourself in the untouched wilderness.
Once lauded as the Paris of Alaska, this town swelled with prospectors before the Klondike Gold Rush.
Its well-preserved buildings, like the 1896 log Social Hall, tell stories of early prospectors.
The Seaview Cafe and Bar, a local favorite, offers hearty meals with a side of history.
Visit the old post office and the Pedro Dredge, a massive gold mining machine.
The annual Chickenstock Music Festival is a hidden gem, bringing music and merriment to this offbeat destination.
Pioneer Park captures the spirit of those early days with historic exhibits and authentic buildings.
Try your hand at gold panning at Gold Dredge No.
8, an attraction that offers both fun and a historical lesson.
The landscape is dotted with old gold dredgesrusting giants that speak to the towns industrious past.
Visit the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum to delve into local history and stories of pioneer women.
Its charming 19th-century architecture and wooden boardwalks make it feel like a movie set.
