The Bonanza Mine in the Wrangell Mountains, seen here, yielded some of the richest copper deposits in the world and led to the building of the Kennecott Copper Mine complex.
Do the spirits of miners who once called the Kennecott Copper Mine home still linger in the crumbling structures and rusting machinery? Some say the remote and isolated mining town, nestled in the rugged Wrangell Mountains and abandoned decades ago, has been a hotbed of paranormal activity over the years.
The story of one of the richest copper mines in the world began in 1900 when prospectors Clarence Warner and "Tarantula Jack" Smith stumbled upon bright green cliffs on the slopes of the Kennicott Glacier. Samples from their "Bonanza Mine Outcrop" revealed up to 70% pure chalcocite, one of the richest copper deposits ever found.
Word of the copper ore discovery quickly spread. Mining engineer Stephen Birch secured rights to the claim and eventually partnered with the Guggenheim family and JP Morgan, who formed the "Alaska Syndicate" to develop the operation.
Once workers completed the infrastructure, ore was mined from deep inside the mountains and then carried down an aerial tramway in buckets to be sorted in the mill. The ore then was carried via Copper River and Northwestern Railway train cars to Cordova and shipped to smelters in Tacoma, Washington.
By 1916, the mine was producing more than 100,000 tons of copper per year and a town had grown to support it. The area was a bustling hub of activity, attracting miners and their families from all over the world. The mine's rich copper deposits promised wealth and prosperity, and the town quickly grew into a self-sustaining community, complete with a school, store, dance hall, and barracks.
But the once-vibrant town was left to the mercy of nature following the depletion of resources and the Great Depression when copper prices plummeted. The departing residents left behind a ghost town frozen in time, with its buildings and machinery slowly crumbling under the weight of the harsh Alaska elements.
They also left loved ones in the Kennecott Cemetery, located a quarter mile south of the Kennecott Mill Town site. The cemetery, which contains 50 grave markers, was the main burial ground for those who lived and worked at Kennecott between 1908 and 1938. It represents those whose families could not afford to have bodies shipped back to their homeland or who lived in Kennecott and wanted their loved ones nearby.
The abandoned Kennecott Copper Mine has become the subject of countless ghost stories and paranormal legends over the years. Visitors and park rangers alike have reported eerie occurrences, from disembodied voices echoing through the empty buildings to the sound of phantom footsteps in the deserted streets. Some say they've glimpsed shadowy figures in the corners of the old mill and heard machinery clanking and groaning, as if the ghosts of the past were reliving their daily routines working eight-hour shifts, seven days a week, with only the Fourth of July and Christmas Day off.
Widespread stories of hauntings along the old railroad road track, Chitina, and McCarthy-a town that grew up near Kennecott that offered more "colorful diversions" than the mill town-flourished during the 1990s when state officials began developing a government housing tract along the old railroad track. Construction workers claimed to hear wailing from long-dead miners near tombstones in the wilderness. Some said they lost tools out of their toolboxes-sometimes right off their tool belts. The state soon abandoned its plans.
Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the Kennecott Copper Mine is a testament to the resilience and determination of miners who once called this remote corner of Alaska home. Its massive mills and machinery, slowly being reclaimed by nature, offer a haunting glimpse into the past. The mine's legacy lives on as a National Historic Landmark, a reminder of the incredible feats of engineering and human perseverance that once took place in this remote corner of Alaska.
This column features tidbits found while researching Alaska's colorful past for Aunt Phil's Trunk, a five-book Alaska history series written by Laurel Downing Bill and her late aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson. The books, including the newest titled "Pioneers From Alaska's Past," are available at bookstores and gift shops throughout Alaska, as well as online at www.auntphilstrunk.com.
