Gold mining in Alaska Juneau, and Nome are responsible for most of Alaska's historical and all current gold production. Nearly all of the large and many of the small placer gold mines currently operating in the US are in Alaska. Six modern large-scale hard rock mines operate in Alaska in 2008; four of those are gold-producing mines (an additional gold mine suspended production in late 2007). There are also some small-scale hard rock gold-mining operations. Alaska currently produces more gold (in 2015: 873,984 troy oz from hard rock mines, and 74,360 troy oz (five-year average) from placer deposits) than any state except Nevada. In
Richard Harris (prospector) name immediately; originally, it was known as Harrisburg, Pilzburg, and Rockwell. Apparently, Juneau was able to buy votes from enough of his fellow miners for it to be changed. Today, Harris Street still exists in Juneau. Harris lived the rest of his life in Juneau (actually, he was later moved to a nursing home in Oregon, where he died) his children and descendants stayed in Juneau for many years. Both Harris and Juneau are buried in the city's Evergreen Cemetery. Richard Harris (prospector) Richard Tighe Harris (October 31, 1833 – October 11, 1907) was a Canadian miner and prospector. Richard