Long before the 1896 discovery that launched the Klondike gold rush in Alaska, the mines of the Juneau Goldbelt were already making history. In 1880 a couple of prospectors named Richard Harris and Joe Juneau discovered gold in the hills near a Tlingit native fish camp and Alaska's capital city was born. Over 100 miles of tunnels were drilled into the mountains that produced nearly 90 million tons of gold ore.
Glory Days: Exploring Juneau's Golden Past takes viewers on a journey back to a time when Juneau's miners were developing technologies unequaled anywhere else in the world. See how this history is now being preserved for future generations in local museums, and take a personal journey into the ghostly ruins of what was once a huge industrial complex and the largest community in Alaska, now being reclaimed by the lush and resilient Tongass rain forest. This program provides viewers with a unique look at Alaska's history and a glimpse at life in the capital city at the dawn of the 20th century.

Produced by KTOO-TV, Juneau, Alaska

Producer/Writer: Kevin Hartwell
Editor: Theresa Tavel
Videography: Skip Gray
Length: 26:40
Copyright Date: 1997