Historical Context - The City and Borough of Juneau

mines, with their great mechanized mills, and large payroll. The three large mines, the Alaska
Gastineau, the Alaska Juneau, and the Treadwell drove the economy. The latter two became the
largest gold producers of low grade ore in the world, recovering more than $130 million from the
mountain rock stamped to dust in the huge mills.
The Treadwell closed in 1917 when three of its four operating mines collapsed in a saltwater cave-in
and the Alaska Gastineau closed in 1921. The Alaska Juneau closed in 1944 due to the fixed price
of gold, high operating costs, and a war-related labor shortage.
For more than 60 years gold mining dominated the identity of Juneau and influenced its growth but
the growth of government kept Juneau's economy thriving after the decline of the gold mines. The
business of government had come about in 1900 when the town had been incorporated and Juneau
was designated the temporary seat of government of the territory. At this time, Juneau had the
appearance of a thriving city and wooden buildings lined the streets. Residential areas had
developed to house both miners and a growing number of white collar workers which comprised part
of the nearly 2,000 people in the town.
In 1900, the District Court moved from Sitka to Juneau and used rented quarters until 1904 when a
new court house and jail were built at the site of the present State Office Building. The executive
offices moved from Sitka to Juneau in 1906. In 1912, Alaska was granted Territorial status and the
first territorial legislature was convened. As the mining activities slowed, territorial and federal
government offices continued to grow in importance and replaced the mining companies as the chief
industry of Juneau.
The Southeast Region of Alaska was a region explored because of the possibility of great riches and
eventually settled because these possibilities proved to be true. The Russians came for fur and
established a strong grip on the area. After the United States purchased Alaska, prospectors
searched for gold and found it in many places, including Juneau. It was this pattern of exploration
and settlement which led to the founding of Juneau, Alaska. When the gold ran out, the city
continued to thrive as a center for Territorial government. The success of the mining industry and
the transfer of Territorial
government to Juneau fostered
population growth. This
population was composed not only
of miners and government
officials, but of entrepreneurs,
doctors, lawyers, and others that
invariably arrive at the beginning
of a new town's birth. As a result,
neighborhoods such as Starr Hill,
Telephone Hill, Chicken Ridge,
and Casey Shattuck were
developed.
Jimmy Larsen House
428 West Twelfth Street, 1935
Courtesy of the Larsen Family
draft Casey Shattuck Neighborhood Historic Buildings Survey Page 14