Juneau, Alaska After the California gold rush, miners migrated up the Pacific Coast and explored the West, seeking other gold deposits. In 1880, Sitka mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward to any local chief in Alaska who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. Chief Kowee (Tlingit "Kaawa.ée") arrived with some ore, and several prospectors were sent to investigate. On their first trip to Gold Creek, they found deposits of little interest. However, at Chief Kowee's urging, Pilz sent Joe Juneau and Richard Harris back to the Gastineau Channel, directing them to Snow Slide Gulch (the head of Gold Creek). There they
James Nash (prospector) October 1913. James Nash State High School was opened in 1977 to commemorate James Nash. The Electoral district of Nash was named for him. James Nash (prospector) James Nash (5 September 1834 – 5 October 1913) is popularly acknowledged as the first person to discover gold in 1867, in the area of Queensland, Australia now known as Gympie. Nash was born in Beanacre, Wiltshire, England, and migrated to Sydney, New South Wales, at age 23. In 1863 he moved to Queensland, working at Calliope and Nanango. Nash found rich gold deposits on an extended prospecting tour in 1867 near the