Kennecott Mine and Mill Town, Alaska – Legends of America
Tucked away within the vast and breathtaking expanse of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska lies Kennecott, a remarkable testament to a bygone era. More than just an abandoned copper mine and ghost town, Kennecott stands as a National Historic Landmark District, a place where the echoes of discovery, perseverance, and human ingenuity still resonate. This is the story of a remote mountain mining town that rose to prominence, fueled by America’s insatiable demand for copper during a period of rapid industrialization and global conflict.
The Discovery of a Copper Trove
The story of Kennecott begins in the summer of 1900. Prospectors Clarence Warner and "Tarantula" Jack Smith, while exploring the eastern fringes of the Kennicott Glacier (note the slight misspelling that would later define the town’s name), stumbled upon a significant outcropping of copper ore. Little did they know, this seemingly ordinary discovery would set in motion a chain of events that would transform the Alaskan wilderness.
When the ore samples were assayed, the results were astounding. The ore was revealed to be chalcocite, boasting an extraordinary purity of up to 70% copper. This was one of the richest copper deposits ever found, a veritable treasure hidden beneath the Alaskan ice.
On July 4, 1900, the two prospectors staked their claim, naming it the Bonanza Mine, a fitting moniker for such a promising find. By mid-August, Warner, Smith, and nine partners had laid claim to much of the surrounding land, solidifying the foundation for what would become the Kennecott mines.
From Prospect to Enterprise
Enter Stephen Birch, a young and ambitious mining engineer on the lookout for investment opportunities for the wealthy Havemeyer family. Recognizing the immense potential of the Bonanza claim, Birch began acquiring shares. However, he quickly realized that the ore’s value was contingent on finding a way to transport it to market.
The remote location presented a daunting challenge. Building a railroad across the rugged terrain, over mountains, powerful rivers, and shifting glaciers, seemed an impossible feat to many. Yet, Birch and his backers remained undeterred, fueled by the promise of the rich copper deposits.
With the backing of Henry O. Havemeyer, a New York capitalist, Birch established the Alaska Copper and Coal Company. This new venture was immediately embroiled in legal battles, as other parties laid claim to the copper deposit. From 1901 to 1904, the Chitina Exploration Company and the Copper River Mining Company fought for ownership in territorial and federal courts. However, the courts ultimately ruled in favor of Birch’s company, a decision upheld by the United States Supreme Court.
In 1905, the Alaska Copper and Coal Company was reorganized as the Kennecott Mines Company. Recognizing the scale of the project, the Guggenheim family, controllers of the American Smelting & Refining Company (ASARCO) smelter monopoly, and J.P. Morgan, another prominent industrial investor, joined the enterprise. Together, they formed the "Alaska Syndicate" to finance the mine’s development.
Building a Railroad Through the Wilderness
In the fall of 1907, the Alaska Syndicate enlisted the expertise of Michael J. Heney, the renowned builder of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. For the next four years, Heney’s crews worked tirelessly, constructing rail beds and bridges through the unforgiving landscape, battling temperatures that plummeted to 40 degrees below zero.
Meanwhile, Stephen Birch focused on developing the mining claims at Kennecott. By ingeniously hauling an entire steamship, piece by piece, over the mountains from Valdez to be reassembled on the Copper River, he was able to transport equipment and supplies to the site. This allowed mining operations to commence even before the completion of the railroad.
Between 1905 and 1911, the Alaska Syndicate invested $25 million to establish the mine and mill works, construct the 196-mile Copper River and Northwestern Railway, and organize a steamship line connecting the copper port of Cordova, Alaska, with ASARCO’s smelter in Tacoma, Washington. This massive undertaking was completed before the first shipment of copper even left Kennecott.
The Rise and Fall of a Copper Empire
On April 8, 1911, the first trainload of copper, valued at $250,000, departed from Kennecott, marking the beginning of a new era. By 1916, production had soared to 108,372,783 pounds of copper, worth $28,042,396. Kennecott quickly became one of the nation’s largest copper mines, rivaling those in Butte, Montana; Bisbee, Arizona; and Bingham Canyon, Utah.
From 1915 to 1922, Kennecott consistently ranked among the top copper producers in the United States. The mines and the Copper River and Northwestern Railway represented the most extensive, costly, and complex mining enterprise ever undertaken in Alaska. However, Kennecott’s true significance lay in the exceptional quality of its ore. Despite Alaska’s reputation for gold, no other mining operation in the region could match Kennecott’s mineral wealth.
On April 12, 1915, the Kennecott Copper Corporation was formed by the Guggenheim and Morgan interests. Stephen Birch was appointed as the first president, overseeing the transfer of the Alaska Syndicate holdings to the Kennecott Mines Company. This included the Copper River and Northwestern Railway, the Alaska Steamship Company, and the Beatson Copper Company. The immense profits generated by the Alaskan mine enabled Kennecott to acquire the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah, the Utah Copper Company, the Braden Copper Company, and other mines in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
By the 1930s, the Alaskan copper deposits were nearing exhaustion. However, the Kennecott Copper Corporation had transformed into the nation’s largest copper company and a major player in the international metals market. The Kennecott deposit, while rich, proved finite. In 1938, after producing an estimated $200 to $300 million worth of copper over 28 years, the operation ceased. The company vacated the camp and donated its railroad to the territory.
Life in Kennecott: Work and Community
At its peak, Kennecott was a bustling company town, home to approximately 300 mill workers and 200-300 miners. The town was self-contained, boasting a hospital, general store, school, skating rink, tennis court, recreation hall, and even a dairy.
Life in Kennecott was characterized by long hours and arduous, often dangerous work. The mines and mill town employed around 600 men, who were drawn by the higher-than-average salaries. Miners often worked seven days a week, with little time off. Many sent their earnings home to support families around the world.
Despite the demanding work, Kennecott fostered a strong sense of community. Movie and dance nights in the Recreation Hall provided opportunities for relaxation and social interaction. Other leisure activities included skating, sledding, baseball, hunting, and fishing. Celebrations of holidays like the Fourth of July and Christmas brought the community together.
Kennecott Today: A Window to the Past
In June 1998, the National Park Service acquired significant buildings and lands within the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. Since then, efforts have been underway to stabilize and restore the buildings, preserving this unique piece of history.
Today, the mining camp remains largely unchanged since its closure in 1938, offering visitors a glimpse into the technology and work environment of the early 20th century. Due to its remoteness, many technological artifacts remain in their original locations.
The central industrial zone of the Kennecott mill town includes the concentration mill and its associated structures. The 14-story wood frame mill, with its distinctive architecture and location on the slope above the railroad grade, dominates the site. The concentrator houses its original machinery, providing a tangible reminder of early mining technology and working conditions.
Other notable structures include the world’s first commercial ammonia leaching plant, the machine shop, the power plant, and the general office. Four tram lines once transported ore from the mines to the mill.
Surrounding the industrial buildings are the remnants of the mill town, including railroad yard warehouses, oil storage tanks, cottages, the hospital, company stores, dairy, school, cemetery, and bunkhouses. The homes of Kennecott Company officials are located in a residential area known as "Silk Stocking Loop."
The all-wood frame Kennecott company town, with its distinctive red buildings with white trim, stands as a complete unit within an inspiring natural setting.
The name Kennecott, a misspelling of Kennicott Glacier, reflects the close relationship between the town and its environment. The mining camp is nestled beneath the towering Kennicott Glacier and the Wrangell Mountains, which rise to 14,000 feet above the camp.
Visiting Kennecott requires a commitment. The journey from Anchorage is approximately 7-8 hours by car. Visitors must drive east on the Glenn Highway (Hwy 1), then south on the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), then east on the Edgerton Highway (Hwy 10), and finally east on the McCarthy Road, a narrow, 59-mile gravel road.
Kennecott Mine and Mill Town stands as a testament to the ambition, innovation, and resilience of those who sought to extract wealth from the Alaskan wilderness. It is a place where history comes alive, offering a unique glimpse into a pivotal era in American history.