National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Park Service National Park & Preserve U.S. Department of the Interior Kennecott Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve 

The Kennecott Story 

Photo courtesy of G. Bleakley, Copper Center, Alaska 

The Kennecott mines and mill town tell a story of discovery, perseverance and 

ingenuity at a time when America was hungry for copper to build railroads, elec -

trify cities and supply munitions to the WWI effort. Kennecott helped meet 

America’s copper challenge and in the process transformed itself from this tiny 

mountain mining enclave into a large transnational minerals corporation. 

“Mr. Birch, I’ve got a mountain of copper up there. There’s so much of 

the stuff sticking out of the ground that it looks like a green sheep pasture 

in Ireland when the sun is shining at its best.” 

~ prospector Jack Smith to Stephen Birch, 1900 

In the summer of 1900, prospectors Clarence Warner and “Tara n -

tula” Jack Smith were exploring the east edge of the Kennicott 

Glacier. As they drew closer to the limestone-greenstone contact, 

along which US Geological Survey geologist Oscar Rohn had 

predicted copper would be found, they were amazed by the 

magnificent green cliffs of exposed copper. Samples from their 

discovery, the “Bonanza Mine Outcrop,” revealed up to 70% pure 

chalcocite, one of the richest copper deposits ever found. 

Mining engineer Stephen Birch, in Alaska to look for investment 

opportunities for the wealthy Havemayer family, began buying up 

shares of the Bonanza claim. However, without a way to transport 

the copper to market, it was worthless. Some said building a railroad 

from the coast, across mountains, powerful rivers and moving 

glaciers would be impossible. Others offered a glimmer of hope. The 

Havemayers collaborated with J.P. Morgan and the Guggenheim 

family, forming the Alaska Syndicate, to build a railroad and develop 

the mines. In the fall of 1907 the Alaska Syndicate hired Michael J. 

Heney, builder of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. For the next 

four years his crews worked relentlessly, building rail bed and 

bridges through difficult terrain at temperatures down to 40 degrees 

below zero. At the same time, Stephen Birch was in Kennecott 

developing the mining claims. By hauling an entire steamship, piece 

by piece, over the mountains from Valdez to be reassembled on the 

Copper River, he was able to bring equipment in by dog sled, horse 

and steamship to begin mining ore even before the railroad was 

finished. The first train left Kennecott in 1911 just ten days after the 

railroad was completed, filled with $250,000 worth of copper. 

Kennecott was a place of long hours and hard, dangerous work. At 

the height of operation, about six hundred men worked in the mines 

and mill town. Paying salaries higher than those found in the lower48, Kennecott was able to attract men willing to live and work in this 

remote Alaskan mining camp. Miners often worked seven days a 

week, coming down only for the rare holiday or to leave Kennecott. 

Mill workers and miners came to Kennecott only to work, living in 

bunkhouses with little time off, often sending money home to their 

families around the world. Despite the dangers and grueling work, 

the Kennecott workers mined and concentrated at least $200 million 

worth of ore. 

Reaping profits fueled by America’s high demand for copper, 

Kennecott Copper Corporation invested in mines in Chile and the 

lower-48. By the time the Kennecott mines closed in 1938 the 

corporation had grown into one of the largest minerals companies in 

the world, due to the perseverance and ingenuity of its founders, 

investors and workers. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Social Life 

While Kennecott was primarily a place of work, ensuring a thriving community 

social life was good for the company’s profit margin, leading to stronger employee 

retention and lower training and transportation costs. To the people who lived in 

Kennecott, it was home. They talk of their “Kennecott family” and tell stories of a 

strong community making its own traditions and entertainment. In many ways 

Kennecott’s isolation contributed to the strength of the community, rewriting 

societal rules to value inclusiveness and mutual support. Yet, there is also evidence that Kennecott’s isolation was not strong enough to keep out greater 

American struggles such as racial and ethnic discrimination. Nevertheless, 

Kennecott left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who called it 

home. Kennecott Kids at the ice rink. 

Movies and Dances! 

Movie and dance nights in the Recreation Hall were a time of 

relaxation and social gathering. Held frequently, these social 

gatherings provided a welcome respite from the grueling work day 

and long, dark nights of winter. Kennecott residents remember 

them fondly. 

“We had a movie twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays. And I got to 

take the tickets, if you took tickets, you got in free, otherwise you had to 

pay 10 cents. This was fine when I was a little girl, but when I came bac 

up there and was 17 and one of the young men asked me to go to the 

show with him. The ticket salesman, said, “Oh, is Mildred with you, wel 

she always pays 10 cents.” I was so embarrassed, I was grown up you 

know... the adult fare was 35 cents.” ~Mildred Erickson Reis, 

Kennecott Kid, 1916-1927 

“They had the community dances down in the community hall a lot. In 

fact, it was almost every Saturday. Everybody came and the children 

Band performing for a 1937 Ball. 

came and danced and then afterwards they had coffee and cake. I can 

always remember all those delicious cakes that the women brought.”

 ~Inger Jensen Ricci, Kennecott Kid & Employee, 1915-1938 

Christmas Eve Children’s Program 

Christmas was a time of community and family celebration. Christmas 

Day was one of only two days a year that the mines and mill closed down 

and all employees were off. The celebration began Christmas Eve, with 

the annual children’s Christmas program in the Recreation Hall. Many 

Kennecott Kids have shared their memories of the festivities: 

“Well the stage was only put up at Christmas time, for the school children’s 

program, and every child in school had a part in it. And I was shy and it 

scared me to death. I always had a part in a play and they always had me 

sing. So I had to get up there on the stage all alone and sing. I would look out 

at my father, he always had a twinkle in his eye...” 

~Mildred Erickson Reis, Kennecott Kid, 1916-1927 

“...Christmas program. There’d be a tree. And Santa Claus would come. And 

every kid... we all got wonderful gifts. An’ I did the highland fling, I remember, 

on the stage. Ahh!” ~Patty Hussey Berg, Kennecott Kid, 1928-1931 

R 3 ecreation Hall decorated for Christmas. 

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Performers in Blackface in the Recreation Hall. 

4th of July Celebration 

Women’s race in McCarthy. 

The annual 4th of July festivities in McCarthy represented a rare day of 

McCarthy-Kennecott joint celebration. One of only two days a year 

that Kennecott closed, everyone, from miners to mill workers, mana g -

ers to children, headed down the hill for a visit to McCarthy. Contest, 

including separate races for men, women, and children, were held in 

downtown McCarthy. With the Kennecott Copper Corporation 

sponsoring a $200 prize, the annual baseball game between Kennecott 

and McCarthy was so important that the McCarthy team is known to 

have imported a pitcher from the lower-48. Filled with ice cream, a day 

of fun, and for some, McCarthy’s famous prohibition moonshine, 

Kennecott employees headed back up the hill for another six months of 

work until the mines shut down for Christmas Day. 

you’re Danish or Norwegian, Norwegian or Swedish. We felt that there 

was...” ~Yvonne Konnerup Lahti, Kennecott Kid, 1925 -1931 

George Flowers 

Many families sought to take short vacations away from Kennecott to 

explore the surrounding countryside. Visiting George Flowers became a 

favorite for many of them. A man with a tenacious spirit, he became a 

lifelong friend of the Kennecott Kids, who still tell stories of his guitar 

playing and fishing lessons. A share-cropper turned gold-rusher from 

the American South, Mr. Flowers arrived in Seattle only to be denied 

passage to Alaska on the steamship because he was black. Not one to be 

deterred, he walked to Alaska, arriving long after the gold rush had ended. 

By the mid- t wenties, he settled at Long Lake where he fished, trapped 

and may have worked as track -walker for the railroad. After the mines 

closed he corresponded with former Kennecott Kids who sent him the 

rare care package of Alaskan necessities. 

“...we went to Long Lake and lived in a little cabin and fished in the (creek). 

[George Flowers] cooked fish like no one else. He put it all in the frying pan 

and cooked it and then turned it all over like it was one big fish cake. It was 

marvelous, you could eat the whole thing.” ~Deborah Vickery House, George Flowers and

Kennecott Kid, 1918-1931 6 Kennecott friends. 

Societal Struggles in Kennecott 

Kennecott was not isolated from the struggles of the greater American 

society. A Klu Klux Klan (KKK) minstrel show was even advertised and 

hosted in the Recreation Hall in 1921. The nation’s second KKK was 

established in 1915 and promoted the idea that the nation’s economic 

struggles were the fault of African Americans, Jews and this country’s 

growing wave of immigrants. The Klan’s membership included both 

Republicans and Democrats, and its influence spread throughout the 

United States. Kennecott may not have had any African American 

employees at the time. The steamship line refused passage to African 

Americans, clearly limiting their access to Alaska as a whole. Kennecott 

did, however, employ a large number of immigrants in the mines. One 

can imagine the message that an event associated with the ideals of the 

KKK sent to them. 

“...we noticed especially there was quite a difference between staff people 

and non-staff people. We felt that way... I understand there was (also) a 

little bit of discrimination whether you’re Danish or Norwegian. Whether 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunchroom deep inside the Bonanza Mine. 

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Their Work: 

In Their Own Words... 

“...essentially those [miners] lived without seeing the outside air from the first 

of November to... the end of March. ...and it was cold. From their $4.00 [or] 

$5.00 a day, they worked their eight hours and then the company deducted 

something like $30.00 a month for board and room. ..they were essentially 

captives of the company.” 

~William Douglass, Kennecott Kid, 191 5 -1929 

“I worked at the top of the mill building, yeah. We had ore buckets com 

9 Wo rking on the Erie Mine Tramline. 

one every 52 seconds and there were about 750 pounds of ore in each 

bucket and you caught it as it came in and practically ran over to the 

grizzly and you dumped it down the grizzly. When it was wet, the grea 

big mallet there-I don’t know, the thing must have weighed about eight 

Working on the Bonanza tramline. 

10 Miners inside the Bonanza Mine. 

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“Then I had the good fortune to take a job riding line on the aerial 

tramways... Well, that was riding up and down the line watching for 

problems that developed in the towers and the saddles and cables. And 

keeping all of the gear on the line greased. It was a mean job in the winter 

and [a] beautiful job in the summer.” 

~Nels Konnerup, Kennecott Kid, 1925 -1931 & Employee, 1934- 1937 

pounds- you had to pound the bucket about three or four times becaus 

the ore was being held in there towards the bottom. Then you took [the 

bucket] over and put it back on the a cable and send it out, [then] you 

had to run back and by then another bucket was there. So you did tha 

all day long.” 

~George Sullivan, bucket chaser, 19 

“Very good place at the mill here. They treated us wonderfully well. Bu 

the people in the mine didn’t get down here as easy and in the winter th 

“There were miners that got what we called ‘miner’s consumption’ [silicosis] was all penned up there. They would come out of the mine and stayed 

from time to time and [they’d] ship them down to Arizona. Very often the bunkhouse, it was almost like being in prison.... I know that every 

they’d have to take a collection for the fare. spring, why, there would be 50 or 60 of them that quit.” 

~Nels Konnerup, Kennecott Kid, 1925 -1931 & Employee, 1934- 1937 ~James Beans, SR, Leeching Plant shift boss, 1925-1927 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Work: 

Stabilizing a Landmark... 

In June of 1998, the National Park Service (NPS) acquired many of 

the significant buildings and lands of the Kennecott Mines National 

Historic Landmark and began the effort to stabilize and restore the 

buildings. Through a lengthy public planning process, the future of 

each building was determined. Some buildings were found to be in 

ruin, too far degraded to be stabilized or restored. Others, such as 

the mill, power plant and machine shop, are being stabilized, receiving new roofs, foundations and other structural stability work. Once 

they are stabilized, additional opportunities will be provided for 

visitors to enter these buildings to explore the places where the 

Kennecott employees worked. A few buildings, such as the store and 

post office, which will become a visitor center, will be restored. 

Working on the general manager’s office. 

Protecting the Past 

Artifact survey at one of the portals to the Motherlode Mine. 

Current Project 

Store and Post Office 

Kennecott’s general store and post office was once an active hub 

of life in the mill town. Today the National Park Service is 

working to stabilize and restore the building for use as a visitor 

center. All of the historic artifacts that remained in the building 

have been cataloged and curated for future display. The building 

is receiving a new roof, foundation and other structural work. It 

will be retrofitted with water and electricity. When it opens as a 

visitor center it will be a place to explore the stories of Kennecott 

and its surrounding landscape through exhibits featuring 

artifacts and historic photographs. 

Future Visitor Center! 

Work beginning on the 

Store and Post Office. 

NPS Archeologists and historians are working hard to protect the 

artifacts and historic stories of Kennecott. Many of Kennecott’s 

buildings, such as the bunkhouses up at the mines, will eventually fall 

to the ground. These buildings are being thoroughly documented, 

photographed and described. Several of the fragile artifacts have 

been curated for display in Kennecott’s future visitor center. Arche -

ologists are also working closely with the stabilization crew to ensure 

that the historic value of Kennecott is protected. Historians are 

reconstructing Kennecott’s story, by exploring buildings, studying 

historic documents and interviewing former residents. With the 

buildings, artifacts and stories, generations of visitors will be able to 

experience Kennecott and its remarkable story. 

Completed Project 

Recreation Hall 

Together the National Park Service and a local non -profit, Friends of 

Kennicott have restored, documented and researched the history of 

the Recreation Hall. National Park Service crews repaired the 

foundation, replaced the roof, repainted the building and constructed new outhouses. Friends of Kennicott purchased historicstyle benches and chairs, production equipment for theatrical events 

and helped pay for rewiring of the building and other restoration 

efforts. National Park Service historians and the McCarthyKennicott Museum have recorded countless stories former 

Kennecott Kids have told regarding their experiences in the building. 

Today the Recreation Hall hosts educational and community events 

and is available for private rental. 

Restoring the 

Recreation Hall. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kennecott or Kennicott? 

The mining company was named after the Kennicott 

Glacier. However, it was spelled as Kennecott, with an “e,” 

resulting in spelling debates that continue today. Stephen 

Birch, the company’s founder, was even known to have 

spelled the town as Kennycott, with a ”y.” 

Kennecott train depot. 

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Removal of artifacts from public land is prohibited. 

Artifacts: The Legacy of Life 

Artifacts are a testament to lives lived and lost, hopes 

realized and shattered and the rich heritage of our nation. 

Take nothing from Kennecott but inspiration for your soul, 

questions for your mind and photographs for your 

memories. 

Historic photo of the Bonanza Mine. 12

Photographic Credits: 

1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 Kennecott Kids Collection, NPS 

4 Candy Waugaman Collection, Fairbanks 

6, 8 & 13 McCarthy-Kennicott Museum 

11 Historical Collection, Wrangell-St. Elias NP/P 

12 G. Bleakley Collection, Copper Center 

Explore Kennecott... 

Visitors to Kennecott can explore this historic town, the mining and 

milling operation and the lives of the men, women and children who 

lived here. You are invited to explore the streets and the outside of 

the buildings, join a park ranger for a history talk, view the 

Kennecott History Film or explore the insides of the Mill and Power 

Plant with a commercial tour. Rangers are available in the 

Kennecott Visitor Center to help you plan your visit. 

But Be Careful! 

Many of the historic buildings in Kennecott are in a state of collapse 

and disrepair. Since 1999 the National Park Service has been working 

to improve safety at the mill site through architectural stabilization 

and lead paint mitigation. At this time many of the doors to the 

buildings are locked. Feel free to explore the outside of the buildings, 

but remain aware of hazards that still exist. 

Watch under foot for sharp or loose objects such as glass, metal 

scraps or nails. 

Do not attempt to walk on decks or stairs attached to the buildings. Many of these areas are unstable. 

Lead is present in the paint on the buildings and in paint chips 

scattered throughout the site. 

Abandoned explosives may be present and in unstable condition at 

the mine sites. Never handle dynamite blasting caps, or any 

potentially explosive products. Please notify the National Park 

Service if you see signs of such explosives. 

Due to the multiple hazards, please keep a close eye on children. 

Final Reflections from Kennecott: 

“Copper Mining is generally safer than coal mining and things like that 

but my impression from sixty or seventy years looking back, I can’t 

imagine how they could get people to do what they did. A man would 

come here and work for ten or fifteen years for a net of $80 per month 

and live under those circumstances.” 

~Nels Konnerup, Kennecott Kid, 1925 -1931 & employee, 1934- 1937 

What a really tremendous place to bring up a family! Surrounded by 

nature and love, we children were doubly blessed. The simplicity, the 

freedom, and the peace of such an existence is beyond imagination. To live 

in Kennecott a lifetime would be paradise! But all good things cannot 

remain static, they must change, and so it is that all the wonderful memories remain and the hard times are forever forgotten. 

~Inger Jensen Ricci, Kennecott Kid & secretary, 191 8 -1938 

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA! 

Kennecott Ice skaters 

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