Gold Creek (Juneau, Alaska) Gold Creek (Juneau, Alaska) Gold Creek is a waterway in the southeastern section of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located in Silver Bow Basin at the edge of Juneau. In 1880, Chief Kowee revealed to prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris the presence of gold in Gold Creek; the city of Juneau was founded in the same year. Named by miners, it was first published in 1883. The first gold placer claims of 4 Oct. 1880 by Harris and Juneau were followed by quartz claims in the name of their employers Pilz and Fuller. These sixteen claims were
Juneau mining district Inlet to Holkam Bay. French Canadian prospector Pierre Erussard, known as "French Pete," found gold on Douglas Island, across Gastineau Channel from Juneau. A consortium led by John Treadwell, a carpenter from California, purchased the claims and adjoining gold-bearing land. The resulting mine/mill complex produced more than 3 million troy ounces (93 tonnes) of gold before closing in 1922. The underground Kensington hardrock mine is approximately north of Juneau. The mine site is within the City and Borough of Juneau and the Tongass National Forest. Development and ore production occurred at the Kensington mine site from 1897 through 1938. The