Juneau, Alaska

Surrounded by the rich, green Tongass National Forest, and located on beautiful Gastineau Channel, Juneau is an important port and a popular tourist destination. Unique because it is one of only two state capitals in the United States that is inaccessible by road, Juneau sits at sea level below the steep mountains that are home to the Juneau Icefield and the Mendenhall Glacier.

The temperate climate, similar to Seattle, produces remarkable scenery with miles of hiking trails through woods and alpine meadows providing a glimpse of just how rugged the rainforest of Southeast Alaska is. Juneau has been nicknamed Little San Francisco because of the many sidewalks and paths that turn and twist through the city. You’ll be surprised and pleased to find city amenities like art galleries, boutiques, historical sites, and museums housed in this city with its delightful small town ambiance. Even though the population is only around 30,000, the amount of land within the city limits makes Juneau the largest city in the United States.



History of Juneau
The Auke tribe of Tlingit Indians were the first settlers in the Juneau area. They lived there peacefully enjoying the abundance of food and natural resources until the gold rush began.

First named Rockwell and then Harrisburg, Juneau was finally named after gold prospector Joseph Juneau. In 1880, he and his partner, Richard Harris, discovered gold nearby, and the city quickly developed into a gold rush town. It was officially designated the capital of the Territory of Alaska in 1900 but did not function as the capital until the government offices were moved there from Sitka in 1906.

During the lucrative 60 years of gold mining in the area Juneau was home to three of the world's largest gold mines: The Alaska Juneau mine, the Alaska Gastineau mine, and the Treadwell mine. These three mines produced $158 million worth of gold making Juneau one of the world's major gold mining areas until the 1940s when costs outstripped the value of the gold. However, since 2005, the gold mining industry has been experiencing a resurgence.

In 1959 Juneau became the official state capital when Alaska was admitted to the United States.



Exploring Juneau
The most popular attraction in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. Located only 13 miles outside the city, at its widest point the glacier is about ½ mile wide with ice 300 to 1,800 feet deep. Although it is receding, it is an amazing work of nature where many types of expeditions and activities are offered.

The Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge provides a look at Alaska’s salt marshes and the migratory waterfowl protected there

The Juneau Icefield offers you the opportunity to explore these impressive icebergs on foot, or aerially, a breathtaking experience.

The Mt. Roberts Tram starts at sea level and rises to the mid-point of Mt. Roberts, which is an 1,800 foot rise presenting sweeping views of downtown Juneau and the Gastineau Channel.

There are more than 205 trails within and surrounding Juneau. They range from fairly flat hikes accessible to wheelchairs and stroller to medium hikes up and down forest trails to strenuous uphill paths for serious hikers.

Other sites include, the Alaska State Museum, the House of Wickersham, the Patsy Ann Statue, the 5-stories-tall totem pole outside the Capital Building, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, the Alaska-Juneau gold mine or the salmon hatcher.


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