GOLD RUSH
© Patrick Endres/AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com
Gold, as the old saying goes, is where you find it—and it was found in great abundance here in the Fairbanks area. Italian immigrant Felix Pedro’s initial 1902 gold strike coincided with Captain E.T. Barnette’s goal of building a trading post on the banks of the Chena River, and the gold rush to Fairbanks was on. The town has grown over the last century, but Fairbanks still has operating gold mines and embraces its colorful gold rush roots. Today, visitor attractions and fun-filled events celebrate the historic quest for gold. See the largest public display of gold in the state at the university’s museum. Visit the Pedro Monument or try your hand at gold panning. Find that perfect gold nugget souvenir to take back home. Discover one of the many reasons Fairbanks is called the “Golden Heart City.”
14
Modern day gold miners still pan for gold in nearby creeks and valleys just as they did over one hundred years ago. Today’s visitors are offered ample opportunity to try their hand at gold panning and to prospect the second century of gold.