What is the history of Juneau, Alaska?
Long before European settlement in the Americas, the Gastineau Channel was a favorite fishing ground for local TlingitTlingit Indians, known then as the Auke IndiansAuke and Taku IndiansTaku tribes, who had inhabited the surrounding area for thousands of years. The native cultures are rich with artistic traditions including carving, weaving, orating, singing and dancing, and Juneau has become a major social center for the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska. In 1880, Sitka, AlaskaSitka mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward to any local chief who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. Chief Kowee arrived with some ore and several prospectors were sent to investigate. On their first trip, to Gold Creek, they found little deposits of interest. However, at Chief Kowee’s urging Pilz sent Joe Juneau and Richard Harris (prospector)Richard Harris back to the Gastineau Channel, directing them to Snow Slide Gulch (the head of Gold Creek) where they found nuggets “as large as pe
