Richard Harris (prospector) Richard Harris (prospector) Richard Tighe Harris (October 31, 1833 – October 11, 1907) was a Canadian miner and prospector. Richard Harris was born in Drumadonald, County Down, Ireland. He then attended Girard College, a private boarding school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is most famous for co-founding, with Joe Juneau, the city of Juneau, Alaska. The first major gold discovery in Juneau or Douglas Island (across from Juneau) was around 1880. It has been the political capital of Alaska since 1906. His Native American guide in southeastern Alaska was Chief Kowee. Kowee is credited with discovering much of the Juneau area.
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