Alaska Gold Rush History & Genealogy

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Chisana is the location of Alaska's last significant gold rush. In 1913, Billy James, Andy Taylor, Fred Best and Matilda Wales staked the first mining claims on the Bonanza, Little Eldorado and Big Eldorado creeks. From 2,000 to 8,000 persons joined the Shushana rush. Other townsites were developed in the area: Woodrow, Johnson City, Reliance City and Gasoline City. A Native village was located nearby on Cross Creek. By 1924, mining had dwindled, and according to Milton B. Medary, a member of a Smithsonian expedition, Chisana consisted of "452 log cabins in which one man lives alone." The Chisana Post Office operated from 1913 to 1938. Mining continued in the District, but declined, until World War II. The Chisana Mining District was placed on the National Historic Register in 1985.