lc uLTURAL L ANDSCAPE R EPORT 

KENNECOTT MILL TOWN_J

BY 

CATHY GILBERT 

PAUL W HITE 

ANNE WORTHINGTON 

- WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK 

AND PRESERVE. ALASKA 

2001 
,.. 

Cowrphoto: 

CourtesyoftheNational Pork S.rvice 

Frontpage photo: 

George Herben. copyright21)/)() 

The miss.iono( lhe Departmentor theInterior is to protc<I and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our 

11us1responsibilities to11ibes. 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 
,., 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

All three authors wish to thank several individuals who contributed to the development and completion ofthis report. 

In Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve, former park Superintendent 

Jon Jarvis provided additional funding and support so that this project could 

be undertaken as acombined cultural landscape report and amendment to the 

park's general management plan. Russell Galipeau, former Chief of Resources 

for the park provided the frameworkand opportunity for an integrated resource 

approach to the project, which was the foundation of the work. Park historian 

Geoff Bleakley provided technical information and review comments on the 

site history as well as providing oversight in the use and referencing ofhistoric 

photographs used in the document. Vickie Snitzler oversaw the scoping and 

Environmental Assessment process for the Interim Management Plan,a mammoth undertaking, and provided moral support when the going got tough. 

In the Alaska Regional Office, historical architect Steve Peterson generously 

shared his files and administrative knowledge ofthe site reflecting several years 

of work at Kennecott. His technical expertise regarding the historical signi6-

cance and structural integrityofindividual structures in the mill town was critical in the development of treatment guidelines. Landscape Architect Ken 

Pendlelton provided several detail design concepts for the treatment section of 

the report.Aspecial thanks to mininghistorian Logan Hovis who provided technical expertise on every aspect of this report, assisted with field work and resource assessments, verified map data, wrote individual mining histories for 

the Bonanza, Jumbo, Glacier,and Erie mine sites, and provided critical reviews 

of the content to assure accuracy and proper emphasis. Logan's knowledge of 

Kennecott history is unsurpassed, made even more valuable by his enthusiasm 

and desire to educate those of us justlearning. 

At Michigan Technological University,Kim Hoagland and Patrick Martin coordinated the scope of work for the university. Professor Martin also provided 

professional input and technical oversight to the archeological portion of the 

report,based on his considerable experience and knowledge of historic mining 

sites throughout the country. 

TAB L E OF CONTEN T S Ill 
At the Denver Service Center, Kevin Percival was the team leader for the Environmental Assessment portion of this project. Kevin assisted with the public 

process and writing ofthe preferred alternative that eventually became the treatment plan for the cultural landscape report. 

In Seattle, appreciation to StephanieToothman, Chief ofCultural Resources in 

the Columbia Cascades Support Office for supporting the participation of her 

staff in this special study. 

Production of this report was provided by two i.ndividuals in Seattle, Washington. Karen Bertram.ofEasy Read Publications did the editing. Karen has a real 

interest in the National Parks,and has edited many of our technical documents 

with understanding and helpful suggestions. Wendy John, ofWendy John Technical Graphics.completed thedesktop publishing.Wendy also designed the cover 

and formatted several sections of the document, mal<ing the information more 

accessible. 

CULT URAL LANDSCAPE R E PORT: K EN NECOT T MILLTOWN IV 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................ii 

PART I: 

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 3 

Management Summary.................................................................................. 3 

Historical Summary....................................................................................... 4 

Scope ofWork and Methodology ................................................................... 6 

Study Boundaries ........................................................................................... 8 

Summary of Findings .................................................................................... 8 

SITE HISTORY ..................................................................................................... 13 

Early Exploration and Settlement ................................................................ 13 

Litigation and the Alaska Syndicate: 1900-1908 ......................................... 15 

Development and Expansion: 1908- 1915.................................................... 20 

Kennecott Copper Corporation Era: 1915-1938 .......................................... 31 

Abandonmentand NPS Acquisition: 1938-1997 ......................................... 43 

• 

EXISTING CONDITIONS .............•..............................:........................................ 51 

Water ............................................................................................................ 51 

Soils .............................................................................................................. 51 

Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 52 

Historic Structures ....................................................................................... 52 

Archeological Resources .............................................................................. 53 

Circulation and Access ................................................................................. 53 

Land Use ........................................................................................................ 53 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION .....•...................................................................... 57 

Natural Systems and Features ...................................................................... 57 

Spatial Organization ..................................................................................... 60 

Circulation Systems ...................................................................................... 65 

Structures..............................•...................................................................... 68 

Archeological Resources .............................................................................. 91 

T ABLE OF CON T ENTS V 
PART II: 

TREATMENT ..................................................................................................... 159 

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS .............................................. 161 

MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY AND PRIMARY TREATMENT ....................... 162 

MANAGEMENT ZONES .................................................................................... 162 

TREATMENT PLAN .......................................................................................... 165 

TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................... 166 

Buildings and Structures ............................................................................ 166 

Circulation Systems.................................................................................... 170 

Vegetation................................................................................................... 172 

Land Use ..................................................................................................... 173 

Archeological Resources ............................................................................ 175 

Views and Viewsheds .................................. '............................................... 176 

Small-Scale Features .................................................................................. 179 

ENDNOTES ........................................................................................................ 187 

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................ 203 

APPENDICES 

A. Interim Operations Plan 

B. Compendium ofSensitive Sites 

C. HAER Documentation-Kennecott National Historic Landmark, 1986 

D. Vegetation Land Cover Types 

E. Rare Plant Collections from Bonanza Ridge 

F. Rare Plants Known to Occur in the Chitina Valley 

G. Vegetation Documentation for the Cultural Landscape Report: 

Kennecott Mill Town 

H. Site History- Kennecott Mine Sites 

I. Evaluation of HistoricStructures 

J. Chronological List of Historic Architectural/Engineering Drawings: 

Kennecott Mines 

VI CULTURA L L ANDSCAP E REPORT : KE NNECOT T M I L L T OWN 
if>ART !J 

INTRODUCTION 

SITE HISTORY 

EXISTING CONDITIONS 

ANALYSIS AN O EVALUATION 
Wnngd.1..St. Elias National Pa.rlc: &: Prucrvc Alaska 

United Sm« Dtpa.rtl'nffl( o( di.t lntaior • Nuiocw Puk Stnicc 

OSC/April lffl/190/20,019 
P,TAOOUC::TION 

NTRODUCTION 

ANAG EM ENT SUMMARY 

I

n lune I'1'18, the ~atlon;tl Park Service (NPS) .1,quiffil the I.ind. mineral 

rights, .inJ associated holdings ofthe Kennecon topper Mmes m south 

~ntral Alaska I Locared in thl' ct'nter of Wrangell St. Uias National Park and 

'l'l'Sl'r.'!\ the area is ade,ignared Nationill 1-fmoric Lmdmark (!\!IL) District. 

nrompass:mg7.700arns ofpublic;ind pri1-a1d.1J1ds. lnel.839.i.:res purdwed 

rthe NPSmcludcs prop,ert)'andstructures in thehis1onc mJJI 1own (figure I), 

hkh w.is the centerofoperations between 1901 1938. fig111t I l'I'• -lhJmmt~,r•111111dJr,, 

1hr l,...., "'"'°"""

.-..,,.,.,,i .,,11 """"~"rl"frh,lliltJrlc t,,,,J,.,.,, Ditmtt I//~ 

fil'r the Kennecott COjlptr Corpor~1ion le.ft the site m 1938, portions 111 the f';J••flln. IVR.11. /W~) 

1 

I

M

c

l

e

b

w

A

PART I 3 
property were sold to private individuals. Over the years the NPS has provided 

technical assistance to local organizations and individuals interested in documenting and stabilizing historic structures in the town. With the purchase of 

Kennecott the NPS has become a partner in the management of Kennecott. 

Committed to working with the community and private landholders, the NPS 

is fulfilling agency policies and legal mandates to preserve resources and provide public access. 

Prior to the 1998 purchase, the NPS completed several special studies and reports to assist in the clean up ofhazardous materials and to assess the requirements for stabilizing historic structures. Although these reports were helpful in 

understanding individual resources in the mill town, there was no single document addressing the relationship among resources or the landscape as awhole. 

Without a complete and holistic understanding of Kennecott's resources, management of the NHL would be fragmented. This Cultural Landscape Report 

(CLR) was undertaken to consolidate existing research and to document and 

evaluate significant landscape resources.Based on the resource evaluation, this 

CLR proposes treatment for stabilization, preservation, and use of the cultural 

landscape at Kennecott. 

H ISTORICAL SUMMARY' 

Mining operations at Kennecott occurred between 1901- 1938. During this period the Kennecott copper mines were among the nation's richest, containing 

the last ofthe great high-grade copper ore deposits in the AmericanWest. The 

initial discovery of copper was made in 1900 on Bonanza Ridge, some 

4,000 feet above the lateral moraine of the Kennicott and Root glaciers in central Alaska. By 1907, with control of the mining claims assured and finances 

secured, constructionwas under way on the concentration mill sited in the developing mill town below the mine. By 191 I the railroad had reached the town 

and shipment of ore to Cordova and outside markets began. 

Throughout the 19 I0s and 1920s, themines continued to expand with newdiscoveries and increased investment (figure 2). Substantial facilities and infrastructure were established to advance the work and support the work force. 

Individual mine sites were self-sufficient camps, with structures for operating 

4 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE RE PORT : K EN NECOTT MILLTOWN 
7 

IUTROOUCTION 

the mine and housing the w\1rk.:r... In 1hr mill town, the largest surface bcilit:y 

wns a I 4-Mory rnncenl11ltion mill, ~urn1u11Jl-J h)' k-vcral inJu5trial support 

buildi~,iliduding a power plant, (c,i(hmg rlan1 <hops and warchou.st:S. antl 

machine shop. litiliues aml mti-~tru<1ure W<'l'l! de,doped to route pow<ct umi 

waltr for processing the on: 1tn<I for .Jom~tic use. ScattcreJ tluoughour rhc 

town,bu1 conccnll31"'1 on 1i.. a1g.~ wen- rcsidcnti.ll structures,mdudingl>unkho=.int.I andmdUJ1I toll.I&..-. 1ha1 pr1wiJed housing forihe mill workctS.,l~lf, 

Jnd families. M1m buildin!Qi in the town had indoor plumbing unJ >t._.dm h•'.11 

Community sc-n·kcs 1m lnJl,J ret.mitioaal ladlitics, spac~ lor diur.:h scr91<cs. 

as.:hool..uidg.tnll'll, 0'1:r the )"-SB, the mdustn.il town took nn th~ ch.irockr 

ofo sm.ill,self-suffi,ient,-ommunity with dome.me ~mien.\, t,o.1nlw,1Jk$.a ~tc>I\', 

and gathmn11an-as. 

low copper pricc.-. for«,J o temporary clasUR orthe mine N·1wc.,n 1932-193-t 

On~ the mine. were mipcncd in 1935.thcdq,letkm of orehoJy finally I~ to 

1he mm~ closufl! in 1938 ThtcompJ.nys31vagttl rdAtikly little from the site. 

Sntnt.' i1t-r1111, ~u,h 3$ small 1ools, were shipped nut tor resale. Oilier ilffll.S were 

11mpl)' ld1 in place fum11ure wa.s left in the rni<lcn,c:s. thl! po"erliou.se w.i,. 

F~B' .l \'in· WKamttott. arr• 19W, ~h""' 

i,.~d.-.,,rJ 'f.l.VtiHh.,._, ,w,& ,mJ t'1frh. ,,.,,,~ 

ccn/1.Ull'lf ,,,./1."'f'p,,I ffl'R'.1lll'a. IP/10~ 

...,_mbJ• .., ,..,rt.un•vy upli,,Hl. 

ff_,:i,i!iin,,,.1Wl(i/,o. Wl15TJ 

PART t 5 
left fairly intact, and the electrical shop retained enough equipment to maintain power. 

In 1965, the ConsolidatedWrangell Mining Company acquired rights to the area 

and began mining copper from the surface deposits below the Bonanza Mine. 

In 1967, thecompany installed a mechanical separation unit on the south side 

of the concentration mill. Today, tailings from that operation have piled against 

thelogofficebuildingdating from the Kennecott era. Floodingon National Creek, 

which runs through the center of the mill town,has also taken its toll,depositing gravel and debris in several historic structures. 

As tourism has increased in recent years, an effort has been made to preserve 

the character ofthe historic mill town and associated mines,which are located

• 

about five miles from McCarthy,Alaska,in what is now the heart ofWrangell-St. 

Elias National Park and Preserve. in recognition of Kennecott's historical significance, 7,700 acres ofthe site were designated aNational Historic Landmark 

in 1986. Since then the Kennecott Corporation has undertaken removal ofhazardous materials, and proposals for lead paint abatement are in place. In addition, several private property owners have rehabilitated their buildings, while 

the Friends of Kennicott and other partners have overseen emergency stabilization of critical industrial structures. The NPS has provided technical advice 

and support to local organizations and has completed several inventories and 

resource assessments, providing baseline information to park management. 

In I998, the NPS became an official property owner in Kennecott by purchasing 2,839 acres of the site, including properties in the historic mill town. With 

this purchase, the NPS assumes a partnership role in the stewardship of this 

significant site, preserving the resources that convey the historical role of 

copper mining in the Alaska frontier. 

SCOPE OF WORK AND METHODOLOGY 

The CLR for the Kennecott mill town is divided into two parts. Part I includes 

the Site History.ExistingConditions,and theAnalysis and Evaluation ofcultural 

landscape characteristics. Part II includes Treatment of the cultural landscape 

and includes recommendations and a five-year management plan. 

6 CULTURAL LA NDSCAPE R EP ORT: KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
INTRODUCTION 

The CLR 'is an interdisciplinary document, compiled by historical landscape 

architects, archeologists, mining historians, historical architects, planners, and 

natural resource specialists. The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve 

serve initiated the project in the spring of 1997. In addition to park and 

regional staff in the Alaska office, project agreements with other NPS offices 

and contracts with Michigan Technological University (MTU),and theWrangell 

Mountain Center provided topical information on the physical history, vegetatioo,aod archeological resources. The Denver Service Center was contracted to 

undertake the planning and public processes associated with the Kennecott 

Interim Management Plan (1999), portions of which are incorporated into 

Part II of the CLR.' 

Because there is asignificant body ofliterat_ure on the history and mining technologyassociated with operations at Kennecott,no additional hlstorical research 

was undertaken for this project. Furthermore,the CLR does not address the use 

of the area by native peoples, prior to or after the historic period. 

Using both primary and secondary sources from the park and regional ftles, 

MTU compiled the Site History for the mill town. New work was undertaken to 

inventory,describe,and assess the condition ofhistorical archeological features, 

historicstructures, and characteristicsofthe culturallandscape throughout the 

mill town. This work is contained in the Analysis and Evaluation section ofthe 

document. MTU also generated a series ofdetailed GIS/AutoCAD site maps 

(computer-generated,geographic information surveys) that illustrate existing 

conditions,archeological resources,and the historical development ofKennecott. 

Recommendations and priorities for the treatment of cultural landscape 

resources in the mill town are based on the landscape characteristics that contribute to the significance of the site. In addition to the treatment recommendations, a proposed action plan is incorporated into the CLR. This plan is 

excerpted from the Kennecott Interim Management Plan and reflects findings 

from the CLR, public input,and NPS management objectives for the site. The 

primary purpose of the interim plan was to address the immediate (five-year) 

management requirements for the site. The CLRs recommendations support 

actions in the interim plan, including associated design guideljnes, and also 

address the long-term stewardship of the mill town. 

PA RT I 7 
STUDY BOUNDARIES 

The focus of this CLR is the Kennecott mill town, located within the 7,700-acre 

NHL (figure 3).The NHL district boundaries were drawn to include the landscape and associated resources used by the Kennecott Copper Corporation from 

1900-1938.While the CLR focuses on the mill town, limited information is included on the history and existing conditions of four of the five mine sites and 

associated resources on Bonanza Ridge.• Although the mines and associated 

structures were essential to the operations at Kennecott during the historic 

period, determiningappropriate management options for these individual sites 

will require additional investigation beyond thescope of this report. 

The structural complex of the miU town covers approximately I00 acres at the 

base of Bonanza Ridge. The study area includes all of the historic structures 

associated with the mill town, including the industrial buildings and tailings, 

various support buildings.roads and trails,and infrastructuresystems.Although 

important for understanding the mill townas awhole, this report does not address private property in the study area.The study boundary on thewest roughly 

parallels the moraine of the Kennicott Glacier. At a point north of the historic 

fuel tank, the boundary turns east following the access road to the Bonanza 

Mine, wrapping around the east side of the mill, above the tram terminus, and 

across National Creek to SilkStocking Row. FollowingSilk Stocking Loop Road, 

the boundary cuts down the hill south of the Kennicott Glacier Lodge and ends 

where the old wagon road from McCarthy enters the site. 

SUMMARY OF F INDINGS 

The landscape of Kennecott contains a number ofcontributing resources that 

define the physicalcharacter of the mill town as it existed between 1900-1938. 

The critical landscape characteristics are those that historically iQfluenced 

development of the site. This includes the historic structures, archeological 

resources, circulation systems, the spatial organization of the mill town, and 

the large-scale natural systems. These resources may be considered individually and managed as isolated features, but the whole story of Kennecott is 

enhanced when these resources are observed and interpreted in relation to each 

other and within an envjronmental context. 

8 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E REPORT : KE NN E COTT MIL L TO WN 
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________________________ 
INTRODUC TIO N 

The recommendations made in this report reflect a holistic approach to managing the complex resources at Kennecott. While most treatments target the 

need to achieve basic stabilization, other treatments deal with appropriate 

rehabilitation of structures, changes in land use, removal of encroaching 

vegetation, conservation ofarcheological features, and adaptive use of historic 

circulation features. As requested by the park,no effort was made to restore the 

landscape to the historic period.The desire to retain the"evocative character of 

an abandoned mining town~while somewhat ephemeral, did influence the 

selection ofstabilization as the primary preservation treatment. 

This CLR was undertalcen in conjunction with the Kennecott l111erim ManagementPlan, which involved public participation in the planning process. Included 

in the plan were several actions propos-ed for the NPS properties within the mill 

town. Key actions are as follows: 

Organize the mill town into land use areas or zones reflecting historic land 

use patterns and relationships 

Selectively thin the vegetation around historic structures to reduce the risk 

of fire and to reestablish historic views and vistas 

Establish interpretative media and trails routing visitors through the site 

Rehabilitate and make adaptive use ofthe company store as a visitor 

contact point 

Rehabilitate the railroad trestle 

The Kennecott CLR builds on those actions and provides additional direction 

regarding design guidelines and implementation. 

PA RT I 1 1 
St1'E H I STORY 

SITE HISTORY 

EARLY EXPLORATION AND 

SETTLEMENT 

I

nterest in the metallic wealth of the Copper River Basin, located in southcentral Alaska,extends back at least 500 years.Archeological evidence indicates that the region's early settlers (probably ancestors of the modern Ahtna) 

worked native copper into tools such as knives and prongs and other implements that could be traded.' The unequal distribution ofcopper enabled the 

LowerAhtna, residing on the lower reaches ofthe Copper and Chitina rivers, to 

monopolize the copper trade. Precontact trading networks likely linked them 

to the coastal Eyak and to the Tutcbone and Gwitch'in groups in the Alaskan 

interior.' By the late-eighteenth century, a rudimentary copper trade existed 

between the Ahtna and Russian traders who had settled on the coast, but 

copper remained secondary to furs. Despite numerous attempts to establish 

interiortradingposts and assess the mineral wealth ofthedistrict,bothweather 

conditions and occasional violent confrontations with the Ahtna dissuaded 

major European exploration ofthe Copper Basin until near thecloseof the nineteenth century. 

In 1884, Brig. Gen. Nelson A. Miles of the U.S. army sent Lt. William R. 

Abercrombie to the Copper River with orders to investigate "the alleged hostility of natives:''Abercrombie's expedition encountered serious obstacles at the 

lower reaches ofthe Copper River and it was not until the following year, under 

asecond and morediminutive expedition led by Lt. HenryAllen,that the Chitina 

River was first explored by Europeans. The success ofAllen's expedition rested 

upon his enlist_ment of Chief Nicolai (alternately spelled Nicoli, Nicholai, and 

Nikolai) as aguide.Visiting both the village ofTaral,located at the head ofWood 

Canyon on the Copper River (figure 4), and Nicolai's hunting grounds in the 

interior of the Chitina Valley, Allen witnessed the use ofcopper utensils and 

tools by the villagers.• 

Toward the end of the nineteenth century,the U.S. government conducted further military exploration of the Copper River Basin and its tributaries through 

the Copper River Exploring Expedition. Led by Captain Abercrombie, these 

PA RT I 13 
0 .. 

Figurt4. Map ofCopper RiverBasin 

Of ,a

/ Alaska 

SCALE (mtles) 

expeditions aimed to investigate the feasibility ofan "all-American route" between Valdez and Eagle City on the Yukon.' While primarily intended to serve 

militarypurposes,the opening of a route was also viewed as away to relieve the 

port ofValdez from adire situation caused by the arrival of thousands of prospectors duped into thinking a Valdez-Klondike route already existed.• Oscar 

Rohn, a topographer and geologist from the United States Geological Survey 

(USGS), accompanied the 1899 expedition to further investigate the Chitina 

Valley and assess its mineral wealth. While the majority of prospectors traveling with Abercrombie's expedition planned to wrest fortunes from gold deposits on theYukon, afew were interested in prospecting for gold and copper in the 

Chitina region.One prospecting outfit, known as the McClellan group, arrived 

at the village ofTara! to find the inhabitants near starvation. Capitalizing on the 

14 CULTURA L LANDSCAPE R EPO RT : KE NN E COTT M ILL T OWN 
SI C HtaTOR 

situation, the McCldlan prospedor:.exchanged with Oiid Nicolai their know! 

e<lge 01 a fooJ cache on the Bremner River (left the prl'\'ious \ear by tht> Allis 

group) for the location oihiscopper mine. Led to the ore deposit~ by faral Jack, 

the prospedors' assays indicated the Bornitt: ore (a copper iron sulphide) was 

as rich as b.3 percent copper. The ~kClellan party staked th~e claim.,; tn Juh· 

1899, the lirst such rnpper claim~ iu the disltllL. 

After returnmg to Valdez. prospcclors Jack Smith and Clarenet: Warntr oi the 

McClc!ll,rn group wnturi.'d back to the vkinity of the ~icolai claims for additional prospecting. In the interval. Rueben ~kClellan Lransferred the inlerests 

ofthe group to Lhe Chiuyna Exploration Company in return for company stock. 

In the summer of 1900, Smith and Warner prospecteJ in the ncmitv of the 

Kennicott Glacier, IO miles west ot the \icolai min~. following a contact zone 

between limestone and greenstonc that app~artd favorable to mineral concentrallon. On July 22, the two pf'O)pet.to~ d~wi,ereJ the"Bonanza· lode, a rich 

copper outcrop at the cre~t of a rugged mountain rid2c ,J,000 feet above the 

glacier (figure 5) lhey sraked 11 claims at the discovery site, at least five of 

which were staked m the names oi McOdlan party members using power of 

a1tomey Arthur C, Spencer, a geologist for the USGS, inJependently discovered the -;ame deposit one momh later by tracking the limestone ,1nd green 

stone contact along the ridge line. 10 In a subsequent report, Spencer noted the 

ore to be practkallv pure chaJcocite (copper sulphide) with exposl"l.i m~ses 

"from 2 to 4 teet acroS!> and 15 ftoc:t or mon.· tn length ... with thm depth bemg 

not apparent" 11 

Thediscoveries ofrich copper o~did not end with Bonanza.Smith and Warner 

went on to d&O\er the ·Jumbo deposit in a steep drque, approximately one 

mile northwest of Bonanza.· This rich chakodte deposit, 15 feet long and 

12 feel Lhick, \\as abo daimeJ under the interests ol the McClellan group. 

LITIGATION AND THE ALASKA 

SYNDICATE: 1900- 1908 

Upon bearing news nfthe Bonan1a disco\·et)' m the faJI of 1900,Stephen Bin:h, 

a 28-}'ear-old graduJtc u( I.he Columbta School of ~fmc •negotiah:d the pur• 

chase of a share ol Lhe Bonanza daim. Birch had been mvolwJ in both the 

Ftg1.'tt 5. loomcm oftlt,B<tnJIUA rl.nm, nmr 

190J. Tht riLII c/1alcdll/tr>r,: bt,,f)- u 1·1stJtlr as 

1heJu1gon,1/mitJJwmonrorrJi,,~uniw 

uppu,'Elu 11/1/itphOJ,Wuf'h. (.\1mtknha1L 

l~J 

PA RT I 15 
• ~~"-If.·~ :' . . 

. _.;, ·• . . . \ - ~ .... . ..... I.,, • , . .

hgurr6. MmtrJ,,rm,"'thtI"""'mz"I 

/CmJ,to,a, ~ I~ I1'1,t,to"'<lflQ1o{r/,t 

&-.I.Wlml 

18983m.l ltl99 t:XJl\--ditions lead IJyAheruomb1e and knew the prospc(tors personall)·. In Novt'mbcr 1900, Dan K,un.~ memberofim Mc(]dlanpoup.wld lo 

Birch halfofhi., uur-dc~cmh interei,t mthe propm) for Sl.500.llirch's tru5t uf 

Kain illld enthusi11Im for the de¥! is 1.-v1dcnt, gi~cn that be did not insp«t the 

property until after iu purchase." The 1.unttact was made fin.10cill!ly J)OSsible 

through Birch\ rnnnc,;uon 10 the H.a1·elllC)·cr family,who bad not only lundttl 

his eduGJlion, but at,o sem hrm to \'.Ilda for the specific purpose o(seeking 

out investment Qpportuniti,:,,. In 1900. under the faws of \\"51 Virginia, H O. 

Havcmi:yeraod)amc~ Ralph,dno1herco.\trrn io1·estor, formed the Alaska Cop· 

per Company, placing Birch on J $300 pt·r month supcnd." After the purchase 

ofDao Kain's intere$l, Birch oegotfoted for the pur,:has.-ofall Mcdellan party 

dauns.Oo.\t3rch t,, 1902,1.heAlaska CnppcrC.Orttpany (which s0<1n changed its 

name 10 theAlask.i toppt'r and Coal Company) bouit111 th(opthln on 45 copper 

claint~ on Bonam.a Ridge- tor.ding around 3,000 n, (('S of mining propcrl)'­

at HOS! ofSl.l million.' 

Tr;m~(cr of 1h1.-:,c dam~~did not run smooth!): In 1902 the Copper Rh-er Mimng 

Company purthascd the Chiuyna Exploration Comp;iny with the 1'Xplkit ~im 

of pursuing litigati(ln owr the llonanz.i claims c,n the grounds !hutJ:ick Smith 

1111d Cla=<eWam~r were ttdlmcall)' under the emplO)' ofthe Chit1yna Exploration Company at the tim<·of di~rn1ery.

1

•Thesuhsequem trlill and high court 

appeal s«11m:I ownershir 11f the BnnJnr.a da,m, for the Alaska Coppe:r and 

Coal Company,but only Jftcr nearly thn:c )'<'ilr> ufk-g.d struggles. 

Tbtco~ of the trial ~,'Tiouslr imp,.\l,.J Je\dt1pment oftheclaims.TheAlaska 

topper and Cool Company undoubtally guuJt'tl the property during the summer months. but construction Qf pt>rtl'lnncnl !.ltutturcs probabl)' did not 1.1kt 

pl.lee unnl after the court senk=• in 1905 (figure 6).

1

' What acuvity did 

occur ~, the sue ro,:used on determining the quality and qu.inlil)' of ore. the 

lat~r being pi111.h:ular!y imp<1n~nl to th~uqui.lition nfotha financial bad(ct\. 

ASSa)'S condm.,ed by the USGS aml olhm indkJlro the tr1rnorJ1nary quality 

of the l\oru11w1 outcrop, which contain<"d upward~ of 70 pen:tnr copper wilh 

14 ounces ofs,1\-erper ton.,. Estimates varied mon: wiJely rt'!!Jrd,ngthes,uof 

the <'fl' hody. Ahhllugh BllCb rcmaintd confident of the ..-w1h or the clainu, 

large•scak inve:.tur.. >U<h as tht Guggenhcuns anJ Morgaos still ~'111 in thdr 

OY.'11 apcrts It• ass~ the s,1uauon." 

16 CULTURAi. LANDSCAPE REPOR"t KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
SITE HISTORY 

Between I902- 1905, theAlaska Copper and Coal Company investigated means 

to develop the claims. It was clear that the workability of the isolated Bonanza 

deposit depended on the development of a reliable and extensive transportation network. Construction of a railroad between the mine and asuitable port 

facility at Valdez, 200 miles away, required funding of a monumental scale.'° 

While far beyond the financial resources of the Alaska Copper and Coal Company.a number ofwealthy East Coast banking houses had already earned reputations for their sizable investments in American industry." In 1906, Birch successfully brought together the interests of the Guggenheims,House ofMorgan, 

Havemeyers, and Kuhn, Loeb &Company to form the Alaska Syndicate.22 Later 

that year, the Alaska Copper and Coal Company was reincorporated as the 

Kennecott Mines Company wit~ Birch as managingdirector. The change in company name apparently awarded Guggenheim interests a40 percent share of the 

property.ii 

The Kennecott Mines Company set aside $25 million for construction of a concentration milland railroad. Italso pooled considerable existing resources.The 

Guggenheim-controlledAmer.:an Smeltingand Refining Companyassured the 

availability of a smelter in Tacoma, Washington to process copper ore from the 

Bonanza and Jumbo mines.Syndicate ownership of theAlaska SteamshipCompany further reduced transportation expenses between the smelter and port" 

In the early 1900s,transportation ofsupplies (including food, equipment, and 

construction materials) into the Chitina Valley remained both costly and unreliable. The high cost ofsummer freightingby horse ensured that the majority of 

supplies were hauled along the Copper and Chitina rivers during the winter 

season." To improve on this, the company assembled the steamboat Chittyna 

in 1907, the first offour company-built steamers to work between Abercrombie 

Rapids and the Chitino River. These steamboats primarily supplied construction crews for the railroad,but shipped supplies closer to the mill camp during 

rare periods of high water on the Nizina.26 

The Kennecott Mines Company encountered difficulties developing the individual mine claims.The natureofthe landscape surrounding the Bonanza Mine 

placed restrictions on the spatial layout of mining infrastructure. Topographical constraints, namely the 4,000-foot change in elevation from the floor of the 

PART I 17 
Chitina \'all~ to the mine claim for.:ed separation of the railroad facilities and 

Utt: mine. In addition. the distance and traveling time hetw~n these areas required construct ion of separate support faciJiue~ and worker accommodations 

at each location fht' lack of.ivailablebui1Jingspace at the mine sites led engineers to place :.ome mining machinery • .such as hoists and comprei.sors, 

undergrounJ,D 

Topography also aJTecteJ the layout of circulation systl'ms. The north-south 

alignment of the Bonanza RiJg~. coupled \~ilh the Kennicou Glacier abutting 

ibwestern edge. fo['(ed wagon mutes, and later railroads to tallow the glacier 

perimeter. Ar higher ele\ations. the narro\\ drques and steep valley~ of the 

Bonam.a Ridge formation inOuenced the pl,11.:ement of aerial lramway~ to link 

the mines to the l,on1.entratot site:. Aerial tr.ims could more e<onomicalh negate rugged lllpography than land-based route~ (figure i),n 

Figurr 7. :\mnl lriJ11m,!)' 11tfr.i,tfli./u1tar 

Krm1,·<fltt , /Mdy ,w rduuJ" 11h >1dl nu1t, 

[i91(J tfrsig,,1 /Jttlr. /Yl~.jlild do.:u1tttnl<1 

lbm, 199- J 

- !'.14~·,. • ~,p At-

·• I. . ~. ~ . •'it A,. , ~fl;/• . • 1: \ i'/t'· . -.• - r . • j. C--~ 

l 

~atural fc.-atures md processe.. alsn influenced 1he location of lower camp and 

concentrator fa,ilitif!;. Glacial ,;counng left a rugged lanJs"1pe incised with 

:iteep-sided iukhes that were nearlr dev<,iJ of level ground. • Wes1 of lhe 

Bon,1n1.a claims, howe\'er, tv.ogulches channeled ,reek-. (la1c:r named Bonanza 

and National) into dose pmximiry, making them useful for domesnc anJ in• 

JusrriaJ consumpt1on. 

("1 mslrlKtion ofthe Copper Rher and Northwestern Railway, seen as critical to 

the profitable extraction of ,opper ore, had a LrOng infiucuce (In the <.election 

o(a mill town.The chosen site lay dose to the moraine oftht: Kenmcott Glacier 

:md the toe of1he ridge.Atan devat1on ofapproximate!)' ~.200 feel, lhe railroad 

18 CULTURAL LAl'IOSCAPE REPORT KE NECOTT MILL TOWN 
Spf. HISTOR'I' 

apprt1,1ch to the mill 1own from the Chitlll3 \'illey was considered a n>ason~hlc 

itr•J.. (Noncthd~s, thr raudty of !1.11 land JI the mill town for,ed rmui- tu 

bulk up ordown the grade 10 the nCMCSt rum.uound mMcC1rth) located live 

mil~ south oftht mncent:riltor complex.) fhe luuulon 11f the con,cnlrntinn 

mill ~lso left cnouim spa.:e tor the ooposal of t111inl(S, a , ritu:a1 <<>11,idm11ion 

in lhe planning"fmilling facilu,...11 

During the w1mer uf I\/06. ,1 p.irty kJ b)' Rud>1•11 ~flCldbm ,led,k<l ron~truc 

tion nutenals for the roncciltrauon ,nm and 1mmW11y from V.il.!..L Bv the end 

of 190;, n.o log struct11res-a nnr• u11l•.t•h;1lr ,wry ieneral rMn.tgm office 

.lfld aslJi;lul)· l.uger ~ror.ige t>udd11111-haJ l>c1•11 constructed at thebonom of a 

south fo,ing ~lope no dcarcil l,111d 11111th of National Cll.'ek. 1In this period of 

earl> dtvdopnicn1,JJJi11omil dc'3rill!l in tlie a~ around National (.reek prov1JcJ l>oth "Jk'n l,11Hh for lulu"' ,um1ruc1Jon and flld for domesuc use. 

Four ,1,ldi1iunnl l>uildin!l< "erebuilt the following )"arasmall bln.:bmlth ~hop, 

a onr-,1ury Jl(l\l nlliu: or stor"!!e fucilitv, a ont-nnd-a half Slol)· hunkhou.\~, 

unJ • 10,000s-1u.1rc•l<•nt sawmill th.11 <panned a ~hallow gully JI the soutl11.'tul 

ofthecamp.A \\,,tgun r<>JJ et1nn.-.. tins: the camp wilh the sreamship laodmg on 

the rhiuna Rl\cr 1111hr ,nu1hwr,1 <n>~eJ O\'er1.hc gully on nsimple log bridge 

(figure 8). Th,s ro.iJ w,., wiJ•11<,J the following year to ac.:ommod.lte rreight 

tran.,por1ation.A sc,;onJ ruaJ la! L':lstwartl to the Bonanza claim; r,> ~urply the 

F!zur, ~ "'"""'""mil/town,tin-a IIIOS. 

1,.... 1oc.1,.,.oadiwi:h lit, ....,..11 tn fr., 

~.,v•..t Il'f,.,~Clllltk>>,{d,,.trtdtarvgr 

~"'o(llut"'}-.nJAnI 

PAf'<T I 19 
mine, until later when an aerial tramway would be erected." 

Construction of the concentration mill began in 1908 at the top of the short, 

steep slope north ofthe two logbuildings.'A'orkers first erected theconcentrator's 

upper story and tram deck so that the aerial tramway system could be used to 

move ore and supplies. By the winter of 1908, the 15,000-foot Bonanza aerial 

tramway was well under way with approllimately half of the 40 tram towers 

completed." Workers cleared vegetation from either side ofthe tramway to ensure access to the towers for repairs and to reduce the risk ofdamage from heavy 

snows, avalanches, and fallen trees. 

Connections between the mines and port remained a primary concern in the 

early development of the site. In the summer of 1908, the Copper River and 

Northwestern Railway crossed the Copper River at Flag Point (mile 27 from 

Cordova),an achievement whimsically equated by some to the crossing of the 

Rubicon." Progress on the railroad had been impaired largely by the poor selection of ports and routes. In 1906, for example, Michael). Heney's successful 

location of a rail route through Abercrombie Canyon resulted in Katalla being 

chosen as the port overValdez.36Aftera 1907storm destroyed the railroad breakwater at Katalla (rendering the port unsafe for the landing of steamships), the 

Alaska Syndicate opted in favor of a third choice, Cordova. 

Selecting the Copper River route for the railway (instead ofValdez) increased 

construction expenses by $12 million dollars, but enabled future savings provided that nearby coal fields could be purchased and opened as a meansto fuel 

the railroad. The need to run the railroad cheaply.however, ultimately entangled 

the Alaska Syndicate with politics at the national level.generating not only more 

vociferous anti-Syndicate protests, but also a political climate that would 

ultimately change the company's management policies (figure 9). 

D EVELOPM ENT AND CORPORATE 

E XPAN SION: 1908 - 19 15 

In 1907, the Alaska Syndicate negotiated privately with Clarence Cunningham 

and Associates for a half option on 27 claims in the Bering River coal fields in 

the hope of ensuring a cheap fuel supply for the railroad. Unfortunately, the 

20 CU L TURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: KENNECOTT M I L L TOWN 
BUILDING LEGEND 

l Manlgcr'1Ol'flcf 

2 Tram Tt!ITl'ln4 

• 5 s-~ -

78 -

79 -

\ 

' \ 

r- 1 

//--­ ' / . ( .,,,,✓ 

', -<1\ --✓ ' ' - \ ...___ ""' // '----

,_) 

\ 

'--/ 

--"'" ' ?,l 

LEGEND 

,,..,,._ Vegetat10n 

/'./ Road 

,- Ttnm 

Historic Base Map: 1900-1908 

a.ituJ'allondstaoe""'°"'~'",_ \YQnQellcSI..DHJJ~-1';,,\ and Pr......

,.__..........,1"',,,t ·~ ... ~Mlc:>....-cc 

~~'Sb......... '11'$-1... ,.........,,.,..,~~~:.ta; - T~~ lttl-W.o...-g• 11llrt'l,':021

... r..i~,,.~

l!JO/ ,-co;i.7 

s-li. 141 

,.-,fl M'llwuirtlliitlh·An, ""'I'I'"~• l'Pt. 

ON MICROFILM 21 
SITE H I STORY 

Cunningham claims had been staked priorto the legal openingof the coal fields 

in 1904. In addition, the number of merged claims well exceeded 1904 legal 

stipulations allowing the consolidation of only four claims per company." 

In 1907, Richard Ballinger, recently appointed Secretary of the Interior by the 

Taft administration, began an investigation into these and other claims in the 

area. The inquiry specifically addressed issues oflegalityand awarded develop• 

ment patents to those claims made in good faith prior to the 1904law. Problems 

arose with Gifford Pinchot,chiefforester of the United Statesand major proponent ofTheodore Roosevelt's conservation ethic. Pinchot realized the cancellation ofall claims would pass control ofthe coal fields,by default, to the Forestry 

Department, which could then institutealeasing system. Discovering the fraudulent deal between the Alaska Syndicate and the Cunningham claims provided 

Pinchot with the necessary means. Aiming to discredit Ballinger and remove 

him from office, Pinchot alleged Ballinger's involvement in fraudulent dealings 

with the Cunningham claims and the Alaska Syndicate. 

The ensuing Ballinger-Pinchot struggle for the control of Alaskan coal lands 

not only escalated public fears and resentment of big business in Alaska, but 

focused animosity directly at the Guggenheim-Morgan Syndicate. Newspapers 

portrayed the Syndicate as an immense political force aiming to exploit all of 

Alaska's resource wealth while ensuring that Alaska remain a U.S. territory 

{figure 10). 

Exaggeration of the Syndicate's Alaskan motives by Pinchot and other accusers 

was not completely without cause. (Judge James Wickersham,for instance, used 

the circumstances to push forward his bill for an elected Alaskan legislature.) 

The Syndicate had aggressively purchased awide range of key Alaskan enter• 

prises (steamship lines and fisheries in addition to the railroad and mines) and 

established itself in Alaska with an undeniable political presence." Given the 

benefits to future Syndicate interests of a railway connecting coal fields with 

the Alaskan interior, J. P. Morgan's initial wish to donate the Copper River and 

Northwestern Railway to Alaska as a testament for pioneer enterprise {which 

he likened to Carnegie's gif!ing of libraries) cannot be considered entirely 

philanthropic." 

F,guve JO.Political cartoon. circa 1910, 

publishedduring the Balling<r,Pinchotaffair. 

PA RT I 23 
The Ballinger-Pinchot affair had serious ramifications on the Syndicate's 

operation and on Alaskan development. The eventual court injunction against 

openingAlaskan coal fields stymied development in the Copper Basin by other 

companies as well. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway would never 

prove to be the rapid catalyst that was initially forecasted for the industrial and 

agricultural development of the Copper Basin. Instead, the railway needed to 

charge higher freight costs because its profits and existence depended on 

Kennecott's success. Indirectly,this reduced available funds forsurface improvements at the concentration mill and mine sites. 

The Ballinger-Pinchot affair and the fear of provoking additional public outrage may have soured government dealings with the Syndicate. It may have also 

played arole in theWilson administration's refusal to purchase the Copper River 

and Northwestern Railway from the Syndicate at low cost in 1915.'° 

Unlike the suit over the Bonanza claims a few years prior, the course of the 

Ballinger-Pinchot affair did not stop development in the mill town and mine 

sites. In 1908, the Kennecott Mines Company hired L.A. Levensaler, previously 

employed by theAnaconda MiningCompany, to map gold placer mining claims 

on Dan Creek, abranch ofthe Nizina River located southeast of Bonanza Ridge." 

In 1910, Levensaler received instructions to prepare the Bonanza and Jumbo 

claims for mining.While operation ofthe Bonanza tramway meant that ore could 

now be extracted from the Bonanza deposit, Levensaler preferred to work on 

site improvements until completion of the railroad. He assigned 30 laborers to 

the sawmill and buildings, while six workers stayed at the Bonanza Mine for 

"purely development and prospecting'.'" As a consequence, the lower camp 

underwent considerable expansion during the following two years. 

Several major improvements and construction activities at the mill town contributed to the production of ore and the living environment for families and 

workers. Fundamental to the development of the site was a reliable supply of 

water for industrial and domesticconsumption. By theclose of I910,Levensaler's 

workers had constructed a ISO-foot-long crib dam made from local timber and 

located at the top of a small gorge above the manager's house. Located in close 

proximity to the camp, the dam stored drinking water and supplied water for a 

250 horsepower hydroelectric plant constructed at the northern end ofthe mill 

24 CULT URAL LANDSCAP E REPORT: KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
S I TE HISTORY 

town. This in turn generated electricity for the camp and mines." A central line 

running north to south with secondary lines meeting at near 90 ,degrees delivered power to camp buildings.A power line to the Bonanza Mine paralleled the 

aerial tramway to the mine and then continued over the ridge to the Jumbo 

Mine. Power to the Erie Mine, approximately three-and-a-half miles distant, 

followed a wagon road north along the edge of the glacier. 

Considerable landscapingand development,particularly workerhousing,transformed the area along the National Creek valley below the crib dam. Workers 

constructed a two-and-a-halfstory bunkhousejusteast ofthe 1908 bunkhouse. 

On the north side of National Creek, a three-and-a-half story staffhouse and a 

one-and-a-halfstory manager's house, as well as aclothesline were positioned 

east of the general manager's office. Asmall assay office was built between the 

manager's office and the 1908 bunkhouse.A rustic water well immediately east 

of the staffhouse may only have served adecorative function, somewhat incongruous in the otherwise utilitarian landscape. Across the wagon road from the 

hydroelectric facility, astorage building also doubled as ageneral store. Northeast ofthe upper concentrator, away from all otherstructures in the mill town, 

the company built asmall powderhouse. 

Sometime between 1908- 1915, the Kennecott Mines Company constructed 

facilities and allocated space for food procurement activities.South ofthe building complex, a dairy barn was constructed and a small number ofcows were 

kept to supply fresh milk and cheese to the residents. The company allocated 

space east ofthe manager's residence fora communitygarden,about 100squarefeet in size. Vegetables and meat supplied by Chitina Valley residents supplemented those raised at the mill town. In spite of these efforts, most of the food 

supplied to Kennecott throughout its occupation was imported." 

Pedestrian circulation through the site was both formal-along wood-planked 

boardwalks-and informal, based on need and function. The boa;rdwalks connected residential,administrative,and service buildings with established wagon 

trails. The graded rail bed provided less formal connections to industrial structures. Water,steam,and sometimes sewer pipes were typically growped together 

and ran beneath boardwalks. These"utilidors;' enclosed in·sawdust-filled wood 

casings, reduced the clutter and excavation necessary for pipe laying and 

PA RT I 25 
provided additional insulation for the pipes. Fire hydrants, equipped with 

100-foot longhoses and housed in distinctive trapezoidal casings,were installed 

within close proximity to buildings. 

The layout and organization of residential and work areas reflected both social 

status in and functional needs. Positioning, room size, and exterior building 

color all reflected social status in the mill town. The manager's free-standing 

house was initially painted red with white trim, as were other utilitarian buildings, while the use of white paint, typically with dark trim, distinguished special buildings. Different exterior painting schemes distinguished similarly proportioned buildings, such as the staff house from the bunkhouse. Initially, 

management and administrative staff resided on the south-facing slope immediately north of National Creek. Their position close to the concentrator undoubtedly made for noisy accommodations,but visual prominence and central 

location were characteristic attributes of managerial residences in nineteenth 

and twentieth century company towns.•~ It is also likely that noise ofindustrial 

processes permeated the mill town. There were no facilities at the bunkhouses 

for families and as a consequence, miners and mill workers, if married, typically did not have their families with them. 

Although construction of the lower levels of the concentration mill had begun 

in I908, it was neither completed nor used in any operational capacity until 

after the railroad reached the lower camp in 1911.46 As initially designed, the 

concentrator process was a relatively simple operation suited to the richness of 

the ores. Typical of the time, the building was constructed on a hillside,combining technological efficiencywi.th local topography (figure 11).The 14-story 

concentrator cascaded down the hillside in aseries of terraces, maximizing the 

use of gravity in the concentration process. Milling machinery-jigs and 

tables-could be gravity-fed and installed in such a manner that the movement of progressively less profitable ore through the concentrator did not generally require re-elevation ofmaterial between machines. Over time,changes to 

the mill made it amore complex structure. New machinery was introduced and 

outmoded or inefficient processes and machines were removed in response to 

changes in the grade and tenor of the ore. 

Water necessary for operating mill equipment came from two pipes. One led 

26 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E REPORT : K E NNECOTT M I LL T OWN 
$1TC HISTORY 

F1tlltt I I r u,i.trtlr-.1t,c1n,11ilL ,,,,. 1912. ~ 

t!it alrnm,•,,th ""'l 111jn>•t"1 tit, mJU .m.J 

DII lu,--lt ,,_..,JM v,r u.,n,t"n '""'''t'-(irt_( th< 

•Ff<' n:JIwaJ1MJZ>J<kmgwd.. /1'/wt,,

"'"'lf'll ""'lt,J ••t11"4• hi•'"',\tffl,,.... 

R,i,,n"-""• Lil•ur1, lmn1T.Sltl ufMu>.•. 

F.urlwnJ.., AJ.u.t.t } 

from th, National Creek dam m the ,onccntril.tioo tables while a second p,pc 

channeled w;ner from ;i point above tht d.im to the upper ,11nccn1r.itor. fnitfally, the millingprocd.S1,.15 unabIt to ttcO\·cr cop~\'alucs fmm the carb<lll• 

ate ores. Millingalso produced a s1gnilican1 amount o( ,ery 6n~ pMt1des knnwu 

as"~hmes~which coulJ not be rerov~e.1.11~·. Sonieof1hese,;lin11~ wt!rebaggeJ 

anJ ,!upp,.-J nn tn the smelter. MO$l of the tnilings, both c.irhorwtc illld slimes. 

'""' put aside and ,roreJ for future handling.•· failin&J from the .:oncerur.itor 

l\'ficJisd1arged on the north and southsid6ofthe building.whiltilll cnenJed 

L-rib wall on lbe north side pre•'l!llting tailings from :shppmgonlll the mil grade. 

l'rior lo completion of the railway, the Bon.inLl Mine co1t~l~tL'tl ,if ju.~, ,1 kw 

1diafl)anJ tunnels Anticipating theexpansion ofwork•.i bw1khousc. mt:sS hall, 

aod blaoorrulb shop were huilt at the mine me b) l\110.' F.lcplurn11on, imlica11.-J that thf Bonanu ore hody ~till containl'LI high-grade ,,n....., hot thut lnwgmJc ores (waying 13 pcr.:ent) were increasing ,n quuntity • Seeking to 

ensurt the vitlill) ofthmALtsl,:.in 1111-oUTl<'llts,theAl.l!>kJ S)•nJi,JteCl(rand<J 

thcALuk.3 lopper Jnd ll'>.tl Company·~o11 nmh,pul nnningpmpcrw.-:s.In 19!0, 

Sttrhen 81r,h pur.:hast-d 1hc 8N1>on Mine 011 I .11ouchc l\land in Prina: 

W1lli.un Solllld. 

On Milrch 29, 1911, th~ Copper Rrv.r and No rthwetem RaiJ1,w linked the 

KmnL-c,111 111it1c- with th.-r<irl of CnrJoni I% mil~ awar,At the mill town.~ 

250-loot tl\"Stlc l•nJi:<' ,wcr Salil>n.il C~o.leoded the railroad to the high 

27 
grade ore bins located at the bottom of the concentration mill.11 As part of the 

ceremony, the chief engineer hammered acopper spike at the terminus of the 

line." Completed at a cost of nearly $20 million, the railroad crossed the 

Copper River at three locations. The third of these, near the town of Chitina at 

the junction of the Chitina and Copper rivers, was temporary. The cost to rebuild the wooden trestle each spring after the ice breakup proved cheaper than 

the erection of a steel bridge. As a consequence, the railroad was not fully operational for several weeks each year. On April 8, a shipment of 1,200 tons of 

60-70 percent copper worth $250,000 departed for Cordova by rail, arriving at 

the Tacoma smelter on April l4.5l Subsequent shipments ofore occurred twice 

weekly. Now that the railroad was completed, the Alaska Syndicate phased out 

its sternwheelers operating on the Copper River." 

Given the expense of coal (imported 1,200 miles from British Columbia at a 

cost of$12 per ton), the railroad could not be ahighly profitable enterprise." It 

relied instead on the profitability and longevity of Bonanza Ridge ore deposits. 

But estimates regarding the size of the Bonanza Ridge ore body varied considerably due to the unpredictable nature of the ore bed. In fact, throughout 

Kennecott'soperation,the mines were never run with more than four years worth 

of proven ore ahead of them.56 As USGS geologist Fred Moffit noted,"(a] common experience in mining these ores is to find that an ore body terminates 

abruptly or that a tiny stringer ofcopper minerals.apparently of no value whatsoever, if followed a sufficient distance, opens out into a large mass of ore'.'" 

Consequently, the company explored all indications of mineralization on 

Bonanza Ridge, and conducted property explorations in the general area hoping to extend the life of the railroad and other associated investments. 

Profits from Bonanza Ridge were forthcoming.At the close of 1911,the Kennecott 

Mines Company yielded its first dividend. By 1912, the company had paid 

$3 million in dividends, reporting a$4 million operating profit.58 Development 

work at the Jumbo Mine, coupled with the discovery of the Erie location (approximately three miles north of the mill town), fueled optimism about the life 

and eventual profitability of the mines.59 In 1914, miners discovered a sizable 

high-grade deposit between levels three and five in the Jumbo Mine. This ore 

block (350 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 40 feet high) contained approximately 

70,000 tons ofalmost pure chalcocite, with an additional 20 ounces per ton of 

28 CULTURAL LA N DSCAPE R E PORT: KENNECOTT MI L L TOWN 
SIT E H I STORY 

silver, valued at one dollar per ounce."' It was one of the richest copper ore 

bodies ever found. In 1915,227 men mined 750 tons daily from the Bonanza 

and Jumbo mines, a 300 percent increase on the previous year's production." 

By May 1915, the mines had produced86,000,000 pounds ofcopper and made 

upwards of $8 million in operating profits." 

Rising profits from the mines stimulated construction and renovation at the 

mill town. In 1912, improvements to the concentration mill included an ore 

sacking shed (complete with rail-bed scales) added to the west wall, an aerial 

high-grade ore conveyor down the south side of the concentrator, and a shed 

extension to the Bonanza tram deck. East of the concentrator, astorage bin held 

ore for future concentration. Unstable foundations forced the concentrator to 

cease operation in 1912 for repairs." Stabilization of the structure may have 

involved attaching guy rope cables to the north and south sides of the mill's 

upper tram deck. Aone-and-a-half-story,wood frame extension was added to 

the west wall of the general manager's office.The 16,000-foot Jumbo tramway 

became operational in 1913, superseding the use of a wagon road for ore removal. That same year, however, a snow slide destroyed part of the Bonanza 

tramway, suspending operation of the line, although the Bonanza still made 

shipments for the next eight months. Improvements to the mill town completed 

in 1915 included a hospital (located on the north side of National Creek and 

painted white) and six, small staff residences north of the concentration mill. 

However,company housing did not accommodate allworkers. South ofthe mill 

town on the bank above the rail line, tents (probably supplied by the company) 

housed the overflow (figure 12a and b). Both forms of accommodation were 

located on the outskirts of the town where space for administrative and industrial facilities was not at a premium. Timber storage occupied areas immediately alongside the railroad tracks. 

The spatial organization of the mill town developed from formative patterns 

that were established by 1908. An administrative and residential area grew 

around National Creek whereore was transferred from the mill and aerial tramway to the railway. This connection defined the center of the mill town both 

geographically and functionally. The location of the administrative core was 

largely determined by the need to be near transportation lines. Stores and shops 

serving the mines and the mill were closer to the tram and rail lines, while nonPA RT I 29 
ioJunrwl functioM such 3> housing JnJ lnmmunily ,en·,.--,. W<-rc ,c1 hack 

from !herail\\'ll}' Trnsh wasdum~ on the mor;,inc Jw.1)' Imm ,,._1<lcn11al .ire,t< 

Around 1913. ~nn~ou want.J to im11row th~ dfirien,) 111 con~n11atu1n 

opcrat11>ns and lookrd into tht \ iahility ul k'.1,hing Jntl tlot.ition 1a:hniqut:<. 

for pmco!Ssing the fines.The highcr-graJ, fnJ pnxl111d ol 1hr !.-a.lung ffll:llmJ 

(75 pen:cnt oppos«! 10 30 percem for flotationIwarranted n~ ,tlemon l>t.'CJusc 

ofthesubs1.1mfol reductions IP transpurt3tion costl. IIU\\tVl.'r,th~ mdf<'l:ti1<· 

ne!-, ofadd le.ldting with the ,arbon,1te nres fmm the llon,mz.1 RiJg., ,Liim, 

ncccssiwetl use nfan .:iltm1.U11e n:agen~ L Tappan StJnnanl,a chffl!istal lh, 

F.!dcrnl t..e-.iJ u,mpany !aoor.1tor1· at H3t Ri1·er, Missouri (illld later Kenne.-011 

u,pJ'l'r(orpornrioo president), fir;t conducted ammonia le:ichmge11perimcnts 

on thl-.t 11m ,mJ pro",J the prixc;s cffcoive. · lly the ~ummer of 191~, !he 

Krnnl'COII Minr, 11.1mpany h,1d er«1"'1 ,1 sm.ill lbt foc1hrv Jt the mall town ,., 

better de1a111111r its fo:1sthili1) al !he lari:tr ,ca!L'. 

The Ala~ SynJ,..,i., ,ea>Cd t" r,L,I m I 'I1, The l:rnn,-.oll l t1rl'<'r Ct11poration, i.lomimueJ by formrr symlk,1k .,flkfal,, took i~ pl~,~ Th< n,'I, cnmrJni· 

C"llpltalired 11n the high pl i(,,., ft1r u1rr~r Cft.>Jtal b) the hrst w,,rW WJr lO 

fin;,nce a much l.iq:i,r public .:ompany. Thr n,,,, Kenn,-c1>11 corpcrl orporauun 

i!CquiRJ the Kennceolt Mine-C.nnipam· ,1nd tlw Re.1tsan Copr,,r Qlmr~ny.iwng 

with tht tran,porlotion intm-sh or thr nnw .ktun,1 ,ynJi1.11r.tn ,1dJ1ti'1n, thr 

ntwcorporation pun:hased sul,,,tanti11! J>11Siti11n, in 1lw lft~h l ur1"-" romr,inl 

and the IJraden Copper J.lines Compan) Th~ ga,~ the 1.nmp.1ny ,, soliJ toot• 

,,_.,, /lo. Jlm.mowl• oj I"""~I 

mu/lo,,...""~ m.i (Mtt,,,('11/,>1.. ,,, 

R..,,,.,,..• lb"'1, tlrnfflll7 <'f .. 

nir"""'b A/...t, J 

30 CULTURAL LANDSC ... PE REPORT KENNECOTT MILi.TOWN 
SITE H1STOff 

hold in future Je11elopment 01 exkm.ivt' lm,-gr.1de- copper depo~its. Utah 

topper operat1.:<l Ult.' Bingham llllllt:,,,hkhal the time \\''JS the set-ond larges1 copper mint in thl• U.s.t. The changt' in corporate structure led to new management stnitegies al Kennecott anJ throughout the larger entit)'. Over the next 

two decades inanagcmenl bel:imc increasingly s}·skmatic ,ll the Kennelotl 

operations m Alaska and throughout the larger \.Orpuration a~ Kenne\.Olt 

Copper expanded into an intern.atinn.11 fon.-e. 

KENNECOTT COPPER CORPORATION 

E RA: 19 15- 1938 

Responding to tht favorable econnmll." conditions that World War 1provided lO 

extractivt" rndustties, Kennecott experienced rapid development within the first 

fow years of the Kennecott Copper Corporation's existen~e {figure 13) Soarint! 

copper pnccs in 1916 (abo\:e 2R cents per pound) and the guJranteed price of 

23.5 cen" pl·r pound the tolfowing )'tar enabled the companr to step up prt)­

duclion rates. tn 19 lt>, Kenn«ott produced IO 1,410,000 pounds of c(1pper, a 

seven-fold increase over Lht: previOU!> )·ear.r.& Visiting tht:' mines that year, 

William Douglass. l,ller superintcnJt•nt .11 Kennet:ort. impressively compaml 

them to the profitable Anaconda ~line m Butte, Montana. Although the lauer 

cmplo)ed 15,000 peopleand proJuceJ an average of30,000.000 poun<lsofcopper per month, Kennecoll achieved one-third ot Anaconda'_ procJuc11on 

emp!O) ing onlv 500 people, runningconsiderably1~\ powerful machinen· ,mJ 

encoumcrin~ more difficult mining conditions huch as am.lined shaft~ \\ 11h 

frgul'I! I.lb. l\111,1111111,1 offo11,7 &1111rtott 

1mll1ow11,curw 191.l. (\r(,m f.1>/1,:ttw•~ 

R,mrru!<l/1 Iihr1o'} Ulm'ttrlt,· 11/AIJJJ"'• 

foirbm1ks Al.uka J 

PART t 31 
multiple slopes and dog legs).69 

Success clearly rested on the unusual richness ofthe Bonanza Ridge ore deposits.but it also depended on the extractive efficiency oftheconcentration operation, which ultimatelyaffected expenditure for freight costs. With favorable results from the experimental leaching plant, management turned their attention 

to include the full-scale processing of finer ore sizes."' In 1916,a 300-ton ammonia leaching facility (located west of the concentrator) started operation. 

Although a risky financial experiment, ammonia leaching enabled the reuse of 

old mill tailings and facilitated the mining oflow-grade ores, marking acrucial 

shift toward the systematic extraction ofcopperat Kennecott. In its first year of 

operation,the plant processed 62,450 tons of 1.48 percent copper into 705 tons 

o(7O percent copper concentrate." Two years later in 1918, the volume of raw 

material processed had more than doubled. Although the ammonia leaching 

plant treated mill tailings, it could not handle slimes efficiently. Consequently, 

ore sizes smaller than two-millimeters in diameter were screened from the mill 

feed and shipped directly to lhe Tacoma smelter. Slimes created in lhe concentrator were treated on tables and discarded.72 

Improved efficiency at the concentration mill extended the use of tailings. A 

conveyor shed at the south end of the ammonia leaching plant redirected tailings from the leaching plant across National Creek in order to create usable 

space for future construction. Awooden crib erected between the carpenter 

shop and leaching plant, west of the rail grade, also held tailings for reclamation 

work. Hoist houses and scrapers positioned behind the leaching plant and warehouse were used to move the tailings.71 

Water supply proved to be one ofthe most critical factors in operating the concentration mill facilities. The absence of enough water during the winter season required measures to conserve what was available. Improvements to the 

concentrator's water supply in 1917 (possibly by the installation of a cooling 

pond and water tanks to the northeast with which to recycle water) enabled the 

concentrator to run at full capacity for the first time." The power plant, requiring 100 gallons per minute of new water for cooling purposes, received water 

from both Bonanza Creek (north of the mill town) and from the concentrator's 

coolingpond. lnspite ofthe supply improvements,both the concentration mill 

32 CULTURA L L ANDSCAPE R EP ORT: KENNECOTT M IL L TOWN 
-- -- -

BUILDING LEGEND 

l ~sOffa 

2 TratnTcrmltlld 

l M•I(---) 

6~ 5 -

-

a 1 ._Shoo -

. 

1110 --...._..--...... 

11 \'/~ 

ll>-1 CCtlOg<S 

14 ~I 

15 .t-< Ammonia Leachil'l9 Pl.tnC 

28 Dor/ Bom 

<II PowdcrHouse 

\ 63n -

Pootomc. \ 

78 ""'""""" \ 

"- \ ~ 

/ ~ / 

.//-✓ 

"._ . r

- -~ ,I'-

LEGEND 

.I\ Tram - SlorageAtea 3⁄4 Vcgetatio!> Garden 

/'\/ ROild Crib Dam 

N BoamwaJ, Ta,liogs 

Railway 

Historic Base Map: 1908·1915 

Cultural Laochalpo ll$lrt l<A....- M• •1-1 ~-SI.Oil-··- ,..., - NNI~....1•0.•U'!'N"'-._, ·l«l:la ... "' lp'Tl.t ~\fflH:JJ.1111 ,,,_ .l&q., ,..._qu'llllltl"[.....-a.---1,,,;11~J11r5,.ill',,6,. 

Al~""- ~C..,C~ l•Jt,;· ,.....n,! 

19o/ioo1$ · 

s~ . lf/-1 J3 

ON MICROFILM 
S I 'T I: 11 I 5 T O I 

and power plant used W.Jtcr"owr and o,er umil it was practkali)' worn ouLoo:, 

Cons1sknt with the risein profit~ from World War I\;Opper pnLe:. and Kenne1.otrs 

shift lo vigorous e>.uaction.exploration,anJ millingof its ore hodies, the i:ompan> madt.>sub.)tantial impro\'ements to thl!((lnLentration mill arid mine sir~. 

The inst.illation of a tramwar between the Erie' \tine and the terminus 01 the 

road greatly improved am:ss and the moverrwn1 of~upplies to the mine. .\t the 

Bonanza and Jumbo mines, new kuchens and dining rooms were built in 1917 

The mill town experienced panicular!y rapid Jevdopment bet\,e<'n 1916 and 

1918. An extension to thl' power plant hom,L>d a turhine; ,tn oil house :>tored 

"Bunker C" oil for use tn the power plant; and a large machine shop locatc.,d 

between the power and leaching plants repaiml machmery for both the 1.oncentratorand min1..-s.A small 1ramline rao 1rom the 1ramde..:.k.u the tup of the? 

concentration mill to memachine c;hop.en.:tbling(wilh theaid ot a win\'.h house) 

the repair and easr movement ol heavy mal'.h111ery. To prevent a ,omplic:ued 

interst:ction bet\,1t>en tram anJ railro.1J tracks, .i Jr.iwbridgc on tht! t'ast side of 

the rail grade raist'd and lowc.>red the tram r.1ih.icros.~ 1he ra1lro11d trac~ when 

needed. In Ult \ational Creek area, a ne" iail ,fopot replaced the 1908 struc 

twe.The log warehouse south of lheconcenlrator was also remnvcd 10 alll)w for 

a metallurgical labora1oq extension. 

Oevclopmen1~ in 1910 also included :.ub~t,inlial improvements 10 si.aff and 

managerial rt•~idenc~. Immediately north of the \,Htonal Creek dam, a twoston rei.idenc<.: built for manager Stephen Bin:h lpaintt.-d white) sat perched on 

the rise of tht slope, affording Vte\"5 to the concentrator, other 1\ativnaJ Cred. 

Strudures, and the glacial moraine beyond (figun: 14). Bec.1use Birch's residence occupied the space onct used ror the1.-ommunity garden, management 

allocated sp,1ce for a new garJen, measuring 100 fed h) 160 teel. on the north 

side ol the National Creek dam resc:noir. :-:f'\\• a"commodat1ons for staff were 

oonstru,tecl al the north and outh ends of lhe miU town. At the nnnh end. 

three LOltagcs \\ere constructed next to the power plant alongside those built 

the prt"vious year. Due to the steep drop-offon the:- west side of the rail grade. 

these IXlttagcs induded lmc:d basements anJ catwalks connected ead1 rottaie 

with a prh•y Toward the c;outh end or the mill town an apartmc.ttl house 1.ontaining five, four-room apartments and farther :.outh, tour, ~ix-room ,onages 

J/XUTl' 14 l!uilt ,n 'V/t,, ''rrl.t,·11 B11chJ 

rnldarct 11uss1tu.irrJ 11~.zr tlir&,n,m:aJlmt 

l'fTIro,irrtd}i,mbc~Im.n·" 111l!tt 

is.bl~ tn tluNdgrournL PJJD"?b<Nfh n,ra 

IY/$1_(USG, pl1"1ci lit•.tr) \foj/il i54J 

PA RT I 35 
r 

were located east and uphill of the rail grade. General living conditions were 

also improved in 1916 with the construction of a recreation hall on the west 

side ofthe rail grade, opposite theapartment block. The recreation hall became 

the social centerofthe town and found weekly use for basketball games,dances, 

and moving pictures. 

The followingyear,in 1917,additionalsupport facilities were constructed south 

of the sawmill on land leveled and reclaimed using tailings from the leaching 

plant. New structures included alarge store and warehouse,a three-and-a-half 

story bunkhouse (called theWest Bunkhouse),anda refrigeration plant for storing meat. Anarrow gauge tram linked the store with the power plant and followed the west side of the rail grade. Behind the sawmill, apaint shop, morgue, 

and laundry facility were also probably built during this time. Arow of three 

cottages reserved for married men working technicaljobs was built on the hill 

above the apartment building, further improving staff accommodations." To 

connect these residences to the town,a road known later as"SilkStocking Loop~ 

ran from the store to the cottages and then to National Creek dam. Improvements in 1918saw a northern cluster of four cottages built on the Loop. These 

eight-room residences.complete with indoor plumbing, were among the most 

sought-after staff accommodations.Somewhere between 1915-1918, aschoolhouse,doubling as achurch,was built south of the bunkhouse and store, necessitating the movement of the dairy barn to a new location at the southern entrance to the mill town. Schoolteachers, generally single women (but often 

married within the year), found accommodation in the staff house north of 

National Creek." 

Recreation facilities in the town improved with the addition of a tennis court 

located north of the concentration mill, a handball court located between the 

West Bunkhouseandschool,and a baseball diamond located south ofthe school. 

Management provided alending library and magazines for entertainment.Shopping catalogs were also available to meet workers' needs." All lelmre activities 

at Kennecott were, however, controlled and approved by management out of 

concern for discipline. For many workers, freedom and other forms of entertainment could be found in the town of McCarthy, five miles south of the mill 

complex. Among other activities in the satellite town, workers found bars and 

brothels. Not owned by the company, yet almostsolely dependent upon the mines 

36 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : K E NN E COT T MILL TOWN 
SITE HISTORY 

for its existence.McCarthy's vitality was inextricablylinked to Kennecott's profits. 

By 1918, the mill town was approaching its peak of physical development.At a 

broad level, spatial organization of the mill town landscape retained asense of 

functionality, primarily in regard to the placement of industrial buildings. The 

concentration mill, leaching plant,and machineshop were located in close proximity, reducing transportation costs incurred in the regular movement of ore 

and machinery. The linear separation ofthese and other industrial support structures (including the power plant, warehouses, and open storage areas) maximized access to the railroad. Administration and staff and managerial accommodationsoccupied the logicalcenterofthe site,placed close to the mill on thehillside. 

Thecompany located most ofthe remaining facilities according to the available 

space. Residential areas, for example, were placed next to industry in the administrative center and on the outskirts ofthecomplex. Staffaccommodations 

demarcated the limits of the town (approximately 2,700 feet in a north-south 

direction)."'The company located recreation facilities near the edge ofthe complex on reclaimedland and in available space between structures.Consequently, the 

mill town provided intermixed spaces for work,domestic,a111d leisure activities. 

Boardwalks continued to define pedestrian circulation att the center of the concentration mill complex and around staff housing. Elsewhere, circulation patterns followed the railroad grade and well-established veihicle trails. SilkStocking Loop residents created informal paths down thehillside to improve access 

to the mill complex. Boardwalks behind the West Bunkhouseand mach.ine shop 

led to areas of frequent waste disposal. The interfacebetween the mill town and 

the glacial moraine continued to serve as a dumping area for both industrial 

wastes (tailings, broken machinery, used oil drums) and residential discard 

(domestic trash,sewage). Pipes and flumes channeled mill town waste(indudingsewage and tailings) toward National Creek where it could be inexpensively 

flushed. 

Although the mines were entering their most productive phase, Kennecott's 

profits did not reach all interested parties.Miners struck in June 1917(the only 

strike to occurat Kennecott) fora flat rate wage instead ofthe sliding wage scale 

based on copper prices. Since most other major copper producers had adopted 

PART I 37 
~ -

the sliding scale wage system, the Kennecolt Copper Corporation refused to 

change its payment regime. In arbitration 45 days later, thecompany agreed to 

aSO-cent-per-day wage increase for miners and the installation of a new bunkhouse,mess bdl,and recreation hall at theBonanza Mine." The company successfully refused to sign workers on collective contracts (preventing independent union representation) and retained the right to decide which men were 

eligible to return to work.II rehired only one member of the Miners Committee.81 

World War I increased copper demand, but it also caused chronic labor shortages. Kennecott was no exception and the scarcity of labor forced the temporary closure of the Erie Mine in 1918." The 1918 armistice would prove 

inversely as momentous to thecopper industry as the wa.r's outbreak in 1914. 

The ill-timed encouragement of the copper industry to continue high production levels by the War Industries Board and the saturation of the copper market 

with wartime scrap left copper producers stuck with large ore stockpiles and 

the need to curtail production.As a direct consequence, Kennecott reduced its 

production rate to one-third of normal in 1919.84 

Geographic isolation compounded problems.The Copper River and Northwestern Railway increased freight charges to compensate forlost revenue. Snow slides 

in 1918and 1919destroyed tramwaytowers,telephone lines.and closed trails.I> 

Thedubious safety ofbunkhouses at the mine sites caused miners to live in the 

tunnels forseveral days."' These events not only affected the Kennecott mines, 

but also claims worked on the other side of Bonanza Ridge. The Mother Lode 

Mine (essentially an extension of the Bonanza deposit) was so severely damaged by snow slides that the cost of repairs proved exorbitant.87 Seizing an opportunity, the Kennecott Copper Corporation acquired 51 percent of stock in 

the Mother Lode Coalition in I919.88 Subsequent construction of a cross-cut 

tunnel linking the Mother Lode to the Bonan1.a Mine enabled Kennecott to 

process Mother Lode ore. 

In 1921, when the price of copper fell below the price of production, Kennecott 

still produced copper, albeit in the lowest volume since 1911 ." In spite of limited operations, some surface improvements continued at the site. In 1920, a 

5,500 foot aerialtramway connected the recently opened GlacierMine (located 

between the Jumbo and Bonanza mines) with the Jumbo tramway. This mine 

3 8 CULTU R A L L ANO S CAPE R EP O R T : K E NN E COT T M I L L T OWN 
SIT H I TORV 

\\Orke<l a low-gradt: rock ~acic?r (approxim.ndy 1.8 percenr copp(r ore) w~ing 

surfo1..t.' scrapers. Operation) were seasonal only. In the absen1..e of artificial 

r.hawing, thegilliercould onl} bework>din thelatesummer (July to Sepremher). 

lmpro,·ements at the mill 10\\'0 abo continued. The powerhouse n.xeiyeJ an 

exten~ion to accommo<latc a diesel engine and additions were madt: to the easl 

side of the hospital. Both bunkhouses on NationJJ Creek \\'C'.rt'. reno\cJleJ to 

accommodak' more workt'rS (figure 15).

91 The second hunkhoust: (circa 1910) 

includL-J a toilet, sho,,er and laundry facilities, a poolroom, n>ading room.,mt.I 

locker room. 

Employment at Kennecott remained high in spite oflow copper prices ( l ·1centc: 

per pound),OJ the 550 pt-ople empk1yl'<l al Kcnnecon, ~21 men worked in the 

mines. \i\'ages decreaseJ slightlywith the 1921rL-cess1on, hill still remaineJ lair. 

Electriciansand machlnist:> rece1,·ec.J a daily w.tgt!ofS5.50 to SS.75,&killed work• 

ers e.irned up to $S.50, miners $5.25, and lahorers $•U5 'P. 

In the 1920s, the nature ut Bonama Ridge ores began to change. An increased 

percentage ot carbonates mlhe ore maJe it more resiht.•nt to crushing. which in 

turn required finer grinding.~3 The subsequent 1nsrallation 01 additional rolls, 

jigs.and separating tables at the '-on,entration mill m 191:? warranted t1\'.o e~­

tensions to the building: a sample mill room on the north side nnd .i "Hancock" 

addiuon for the Jigs immL.Jiatel) up-)lope from the general manager's office... 

fi.'?i.r;: 15 AJm11mrr..i11l'(rmrrrojJi.rr:m•u,n 

~OK111g the mm ,wd111J11Jtr,albui1Ji11gs, 

hu!['it.al (m1tn fi•r~u11JJ, sraffJ1cwu 

(,1ghr),,111J :ar.Jgasoffitt(Unt.'r) ~'.,u thr 

wrll.Jlugpde. p11Mtjm«. auJbc<zrd1111fli 

(, t:11tafor~round) Phorogmph drcil JIJJ9. 

(USC) Piro:.,Lil•rlll'); M,!J111 753J 

p11, RT I 39 
The resultant increase in slimes and fine sands created by the milling process 

led to the installation of asmall flotation unit to process the slimes. Laboratory 

experiments proved the ammonia leaching process could be extended to work 

with slimes, but costs for the expanded leaching process far outstripped those 

associated with the alternative-flotation-bythree to four times." As an added 

advantage to its cheaper cost, the flotation process extracted sulphide copper 

not recoverable by ammonia leaching. 

Lack ofconsistent results when fine tuning the process in the laboratory,coupled 

with the variable experience of other flotation mills, delayed the plant's installation (an addition to the north end of the leaching facility) until 1923. The 

flotation process at Kennecott worked approximately 20 percent of the total ore 

tonnage and extracted between 72-75 percent of the copper from the slimes. 

This improvedoverall efficiencyofextraction to 96 percent.96 In 1924,Kennecott 

ceased the separation and direct shipment of slimes to the Tacoma smelter. 

Redirection of these slimes into the concentrator introduced more insolubles 

(such as alumina and iron oxide) into the mixture and decreased the efficiency 

of the flotation process by 5-10 percent, a problem still unresolved in 1928.91 

The year the flotation plant began operating proved to be Kennecott's greatest 

year in terms ofore quantity mined. However, diminished ore quality meant 

profits did not exceed 1916 levels. The expected limited life of the mines influenced company decisions against installation of additional flotation cells to 

supersede the expensive leaching process. Kennecott Copper Corporation continued investments in other mining companies by purchasing the Blackbird 

mine in 1923 (adjoining the Beatson property on Latouche Island) for a little 

over a million dollars and by continuing the purchase ofstock in Utah Copper 

(of which Kennecott owned 76 percent).98 

The changes to the ore body ma.rked a shift in the life cycle of the mines. Although the mines still extracted ore from known veins, the discoveries of new 

ore bodies were becoming less frequent." This directly effected the nature of 

surface improvements to the mill town. Between 1918- 1925, improvements at 

the site focused on increasing the amount of storage for equipment and supplies.The company expended little capital on improving residential and service 

facilities. Storage areas were located opposite the store and warehouse building, 

40 CULTURAL L ANDSCAP E REPORT : KENNECOTT MILLTOWN 
Sil£ HISTOA, 

Fp, 16 w•>ffl>II ,nilla ,,pk, 1• 1->2~ 

11o, ~rs.,,.,.,,,....~ lht Kirov/· '" ""••.I b.,,d,,J/lfl,1,/ In,_ (p~.,,• ..,.,,.,_,.o(ch,Awl• !iuit, Ub""1I 

hetwem the .-«~lionhall and barn.,,nd north ot the~rmtion h.ill (lorJ coal 

bunker). Thr l'.Ompany ili11 constructed two g.,rag.c faciluie.< south ofthe .Wry 

ham Lumber storage areilS occupied space near the radroad, including.tl'l'aS 

between the a~rtment blo<:k and schoolhousesouthof the recn:.11io11 hall Jnd 

rast ofthe Upjl(!r mill complex. Facihtics for workers thilt were consll\lct..J br 

1925 mduJed a balhhou._<e east ofthe company ~,,,re, two co11.1g..-s north 11( th,, 

l"Cfeation ball. and a tem cottage .11 the50Uth enJ of the complex (ligur<' 16). 

In August 1914.a fire destroyed p.irt 01 rhcpo1,cr plan1,.1 smrtll ,111rehousr,,1ncl 

oneamage in the mill town. By=ly the nat )""1r,ho1>c":t,,1 new pow,,. plant 

11-as opcrauo1ULStructur.il ddms from the nh.l powerhouse. indudm11 lurnucc 

,1,1cks, wcredumpal northwest of tht' pldnt,Jown slnpc lrom the stnffhou.~ 

on the west side ol the rad gr•dc. Nonmu.: tuml ,hang,,s 10 rhc mill complex 

111duJoi rnmmg dr rrpaintmg the mill gr.11 for a brief pcnll<l (!he red with 

while1nmL,tcrmidoptal)nnJ tht'cxpam-ic>n ofi;irdm ploisaruund5t111fhousing. 

Mochoftheh1gh grJdeoredtpas1b.11 l\cnnteonh,1dhecndt'flkt,-Jhy 1924 A 

"o~-cut betwttn 1he fumbo a11d Erie Min.-~ cxpc1\t-J five ore b..11riMg f15sures. 

all llmJteJ in thcir <J<tl?nl The cn\'C<;<ut nl'\crthet. , lmprrtv~ th~ dficicncy<>f 

or~ transportntton,:suia ore lrom the Frie Mine (ond indttd ulhrr supplies) 

,1111IJ now l>c tran~!'('rt,-J hy tram 111 the Jumbo Mine. l'ossil>l)·c<1nrn11~d with 

the lu1111eol the Ktnnl-,;oU mines.Stcrh..-n Birth vhitrJ Kmnecou in 19~4,thc 

P/IPT I 41 
first time since 1915 (owing to his near permanent absence, the house built for 

Birch found use as aguesthouse).'"' 

Followinginstallation ofthe flotation plant, few technical developments occurred 

at the site.Theconcentrator,however,received continual improvements throughout its life span. In 1925,for instance, increasing inefficiencies in the leaching 

plant (caused by the clogging effect of intermediate sized grains) resulted in 

the installation of a bal.J mill feeding directly to the flotation plant. The concentration mill retained machinery no longer connected to the system. Continued 

accommodations for new machinery gradually increased the internal and external complexity of the concentration mill.'" 

By 1925 the decline of Kennecott ore bodies was serious. Attempts to locate 

new ore bodies in all likely sections had failed. Furthermore, continued prospecting in unlikely areas "reduced the expectation of other discoveries to so 

remote a possibility that they could no longer be counted on to extend the life of 

the mines'.''°' By 1928, the Glacier Mine was scheduled to close, Bonanza and 

Jumbo reserves were largely exhausted, and the Mother Lode Mine had been 

nearly stopped.''"This situation left Kennecott unable to take full advantage of 

the 1929 copper price boom (24 cents per pound, the highest in IO years), but 

probably helped it weather the subsequent crash in 1931 that destroyed thecopper market. Large copper stockpiles from other mines led the Corporation to 

close the Erie Mine and abandon the expensive leaching process at Kennecott.'°' 

After the seasonal washout ofthe Copper Riverand Northwestern RailwayBridge 

at Chitina in 1932, the Kennecott Copper Corporation suspended operations on 

Bonanza Ridge. The next two years saw limited underground, tram line, and 

concentrator repairs conducted at the site. In 1933, Stephen Birch resigned as 

president of the corporation,succeeded by E. Tappan Stannard. Favorable copper prices set by Roosevelt's National RecoveryAdministration reopened the 

Kennecott mines in 1935.'0

' Even with the intention ofsystematically closing 

the mines, exploration work resumed, but without success. Throughout the 

dwindling years of the Kennecott mines, the Kennecott Copper Corporation 

continued to expand. In 1926, it acquired 99 percent of stock in Utah Copper 

and in 1933 bought out the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company. 

42 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECO T T M I LL TOWN 
SITE HI STO RY 

In October 1938, the Kennecott Copper Corporation closed mining operations 

on Bonanza Ridge and ended large-scale mineral production in theWrangell 

Mountains. During their short period of operation, the Kennecott mines 

produced 591,535 tons of copper and 9million ounces ofsilver.The value of the 

mines approximated $200 million, with net profits on the order of$100 million.'"' Kennecott's true value, however, proved far greater, for it provided its 

initial investors with an opportunity to expand into an extremely successful 

multinational copper corporation, all within the space of a few decades. The 

Corporation gradually expanded itsholdings oflarge-scale and low-grade copper deposits. By 1974, the Kennecott Copper Corporation was theworld's largest independent copper producer (figure 17).'" 

ABANDONMENT TO NPS ACQUISITION: 

1938-1997 

The well-foreseen closure of the Kennecott mines allowed the salvage of mill 

and mine equipment to be planned and executed with efficiency. Beginning in 

August 1938, the corporation removed the turbine unit from the power plant, 

assorted electric motors, warehouse stock, and several tons of brass scrap. At 

the closure of mining operations in October, the company removed allserviceable equipment (includingdrills, tools, and phones) sequentiallyfrom the Erie, 

Jumbo, and Bonanza mines. Dismantling of the machine shop, concentrator 

repair shop, and carpentry shop followed salvage of the concentrator and flotation plant equipment.'" 0. A. Nelson, from Chitina, purchased the Erie power 

line and remaining warehouse stock. W.E.Dunkle ofColorado Station (Alaska) 

acquired stationary diesel engines from the powerplant, afour-ton mine locomotive.and most ofthe metallurgical and assaying equipment.'°' Material not 

sold locally to other mine operators was sent to Cordova for storage. 

The expense of transportation and technological obsolescence argued against 

the full-scale removal of all machinery and equipment at Kennecott.110 The 

power plant and electric shop were still potentially operational.albeitat limited 

capacity; crushers,screens,and concentrating tables remained in the mill; aerial 

tramways were left in place; and furnishings remained in the guesthouse, 

superintendent's residence, hospital, and staff residences on National Creek."' 

The sizable amount ofmaterial remaining after theofficial closure of the site on 

PART I 43 
December 23, 1938 ensured apotential use for Kennecott in the event of future 

ore discoveries. 

One month after the abandonment of mining operations at Kennecott, the 

Copper River and Northwestern Railway closed.After the last train departed for 

Cordova, as few as 15 families remained in the Chitina Valley, avivid indication 

of Kennecott's influence on local settlement patterns. 

112 During World War II, 

the Alaska Road Commission constructed a hand-operated tram across the 

Copper River at Chitina.In addition, the removal of rails and ties from the railroad grade enabled motor vehicle access from the tram to McCarthy and 

Kennecott. 

Establishment.of the McCarthy Lodge in the 1950s provided a means for tourists to visit the Chitina Valley and Kennecott.Around the same time, Kennecott 

Copper Corporation awarded acontract to Ray Trotochau for the demolition of 

all surface structures on the property. Trotochau demolished the staff house, 

manager's residence, and guest house in the central part of the complex, additionally removing the roof from the upper concentrator and rear portion ofthe 

company store roof.'" Trotochau acquired surface rights to Kennecott in 1957. 

Eight years later, the Consolidated Wrangell Mining Company purchased the 

3,000-acre property for $6,000 and commenced working surface copper deposits located below the Bonanza Mine.'" A small-sale operation, Consolidated 

Wrangell constructed asmall base camp and separation plant dose to the workings. By 1967, operations relocated to the mill town. The prior demolition of 

residences along the south-facing slope ofNational Creek valley provided asuitably cleared area for the location ofequipment, while extant structures in the 

mill town provided ample room for accommodation. Consolidated Wrangell 

positioned an ore bin and separation machinery (run by diesel generators)between the bottom of the slope and the site of the superintendent's residence. 11s 

Ashed once associated with the superintendent's house found additional application for storage. Awooden chute constructed of reused timber and siding 

from the site connected the ore bin to the top of the slope east of the tram terminus. This allowed ore to be dumped directly from the Bonanza Mine road. 

Tailings created from the operation extended west and eventually pressed against 

the side of the manager's office. At the dose of operations sometime in the 

mid-!970s, Consolidated Wrangell left most of its milling machinery behind. 

44 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
BUILDING 

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Historic Base Map: 1915-1938 

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.}4,19-1 411 

ON MICROFILM 
SITE HISTORY 

Much of this machinery remains throughout the mill town,scattered primarily 

in the National Creek area. 

In 1976, the Great Kennicott Land Company acquired rights to the lower halfof 

Consolidated Wrangell's property. Taking advantage of increased visitation and 

tourism in the area, the Land Company proceeded to SUJbdivide the property 

for sale to the public.116 In the mill town,a lot was assigned to practically each 

building. The dairy barn, schoolhouse, and generator shed were all adaptively 

reused forseasonal accommodations. Renovations to the apartment housetransformed it into the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Burned to the ground in 1983, the 

lodge was rebuilt in 1987 and later enlarged with a new south wing. During 

these renovations, two cottages immediately south of the lodge were removed 

to create a driveway and lawn. Relocated opposite the schoolhouse at the rail 

grade level (in the area previously used for wood storage), the cottages found 

service as staff accommodations for the lodge. 

The creation of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in 1980 culminated over 

40 years of National Park Service (NPS) interest in. the Chitina Valley. Ernest 

Gruening, director ofthe United States Department of the Interior's Division of 

Territories and Island Possessions, visited Kennecott just prior to its closure in 

1938. In the subsequent proposal to create Kennicott National Monument, the 

mill town played a key role as the park's Visitor Center.111 Plans were dashed in 

1940 by the Kennecott Copper Corporations decision to retain all miningclaims, 

somewhat contradicting an earlier resolution. President Roosel'elt decisively 

rejected the proposal in 1941 on the grounds ofit being wartime, but also because be doubted visitor numbers would ever be high enough to sustain the 

park.''' Alaskas passage to Statehood and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

Act caused further delays in the allocation ofland for a 111ational park. 

At the formation ofthe Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Kennecott 

remained in private ownership.a substantially diminished role from earlier proposals by Gruening. Establishmentofthe park nevertheless revitalized McCarthy 

as a tourist center. This increased tourism and visitation to the concentrator 

and mines, as did Kennecott's designation as a National Historic Landmark in 

1986 (figure 18). As one consequence, new construction occurred at the mill 

town, particularly at its southern entrance. Adisplay board, guide office, and 

PART I 41 
M$""' 111 .,...,,,"" ,mJJ,..,,;,Ja., 19.l>. 

(/1111,.,,, Amm,,m ~"""''"RMMJ. 

/{I L,,.e) 

~hutdt bus rurnill'Ound presently occupy the ~rm along !he m1h,ay nght-ofwny Just north of the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Current d,•vd,1pment at the site 

inml,o construction of a commercial facility in th.: ronncr ll)Olti,,n of thuoal 

hunker. west of the lodge anJ rail grade. Rtct'Tlt lanihairutg around the da1ty 

barn occurred when the propertywas adverrisa! forsalr.Mill tailings ha,·cAlso 

found reuse for the surfucmg ofmilds and nimrips in the local arc.1.11 

Tht looung of portable arufucu and mi~ora,.irirt)· ofu1mtruction nLltcn 

.ils alsostemmctl from in~visitation,Natural forces hnv.·. howc,·er,pro,·td 

equally 1f not more desuucti\'C. The 1%-1 ~rthquakc foiled tram towers inJ 

<ijusal ,lipp,1gcof the tailing banks behind the West Bunkhou'll:, Ahhough the 

,lippagc nf t,1ilin_&<, JJd notaffect mill town struClllres.it <Limage.I the arl'll whm· 

Jnmcsti< g.irh.igch.ulon,eb~discatd«I.' Flood J.imagcrnuM'llby the burstwg of the NatinnRI Crrekdam 1n 1980,J.Dd again in 19113, recontou reJ theeen• 

tr.ii p.1r1 or the mill town dnd dt-posittd large \'Olumes of silt through lb( 

'lationaJ creek bunkhousts,hospit.11,.iml assayshe<l. Th~Jc,Jruction nfl,uard• 

wal~drtd liu:•hOSc asin~ mthe SaiionaJ Cttek arra rupt,cti•d)· diminJh:-J 

inJkntiun.~"' prt111<1uslr "·di dtfined mrulanon and Kennecou·, GJrc inmeet• 

ing fir~ i~ur1111re ,1ipufat1ons. West of the rail trestle, ilooJing ruptured the 

tailing cnli anJ Jt;io,ittJ tailin&:, further down-slope.'" ln the process. wastcr,mo"al syltrnis exiting Imo National Crttk (such :is Burnes and pipes) 

$11Stained m,,jor damav 

48 CULTVR"L LANDSCAPE R,PORT KENNECOTT MILLTOWN 
GITE:: HISTORY 

Both natural and cultural agencies haYe contributed to the general deterioration of the mill town. The sawmill, oil house (west of the power plant), and 

almost all privies have entirely collapsed.The laundry building was demolished 

in the late 1970s as a hazard. Fallen wood siding surrounds the mill building 

and the southern end of the leaching plant. Decking between structures has 

fallen into disrepair. 

As a means of preserving extant mill town structures, the NPS, along with 

Friends ofKennicott, reroofed anumber ofbuildings (includingthestore.power 

plant,concentrator,andleaching plant) and in addition.stabilized the west wall 

oftheconcentrator. Renovated and modern buildings conform to historical paint 

schemes, although unpainted corrugated iron roofing visually differs from historic materials. Most ofthe buildings remain unoccupied,and repairs are conducted on an as-needed basis.Between 1993 and 1994, the Kennecott Corporation contracted to remove asbestos from utilidors and 33 structures in the mill 

town.122 The capping ofan ash pile behind the machine shop, along with the 

removal ofother potentiolly hozardous wastes and proposed lead-paint abatement programs prepared the mill town for greater visitor numbers. 

Generally viewed as a "ghost town:• Kennecott shows no interpretation other 

thanthat acquired through guided tours. Similarly, there has been little effort to 

restore the industrial landscape. Vegetation, primarily alder and willow, 

encroaches upon buildings and formerlybarren hillsides, particularly in the 

central part of the site and northeast mill town area, obscuring both historic 

landscape features (suchas gardens) and vistas (suchas the general approach 

to the mill town and view from the National Creek footbridge). More importantly, overgrowth in the National Creek area has entirely removed indications 

ofits central function to Kennecott's operation. 

Despite theabsence ofinterpreted trails,circulation patterns generallyconform 

with historic systems. The rail-bed acts as the main thoroughfare for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Visitor circulation usually travels along this route 

and then up a loop road behind the concentrator, eventually connecting with 

Silk Stocking Loop. This altogether avoids circulation in the central area of 

Kennecott,once occupied by managerial residences and administration.Boardwalk routes, due to poor survival or complete absence, are not followed. The 

PA RT I 49 
creation ofadditional paths leading from S.ilk Stocking Loop to the lower mill 

town (cut by residents themselves) and the addition of roads in the southern 

portion of the site do not conform with historical circulation, but tend to be 

used by Kennecott residents rather than visitors. Circulation largely created by 

tourists involves informal routes to the glacial moraine, tailing piles, National 

Creek streambed, and discard areas. Pedestrian traffic in these areas does not 

conform to historic circulation patterns,and the lack of designated routes additionally threatens to disturb areas of archeological significance. Kennecott-era 

dumps, in particular, have sustained damages to integrity from continued looting. 

Modern discard practices constitute asecond threat to the archeological integrity of Kennecott-era dumps. Modern dumps are located primarily between 

the tailings slope and glacial moraine, predominanrly at the southern end of 

the site. This largely conformsto historic patterns.and there is noticeable mixing of modern and historic refuse. Waste disposal remains a problem in the 

mill town. 

Sixty yearsafter the closure ofthe mines, Kennecott retains much ofits historic 

fabric and complexity. The physical isolation of the site and the relatively difficult public access have played key roles in preserving the character of the site. 

However,recent and projected visitation levels have dearly placed new demands 

on the site, and closer monitoring and maintenance is required to ensure the 

survival of Kennecott as a resource for future generations. 

so CULTU RA L L ANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
EXl~TING CONDITIONS 

EXISTING CONDITIONS 

Kennecott is located along the south side of the Wrangell Mountains on the western slope of Bonanza Ridge. The ridge rises more than 

4,000 feet from the Kennicott Glacier on the west before descending into 

McCarthy Creek on the east. The lower elevations ofthe ridge are forested with 

white spruce, alder, poplar, and willow. Farther up the ridge, the trees give way 

to shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. The ridge top is in the alpine zone. 

The mill town is located on a valley wall at about 2,000 feet elevation along the 

lateral moraine near the confluence ofthe Kennicott and Root glaciers.The climate oftheKennicott valley is transitional between maritime and continental, 

with long, cold winters and short, warm growing seasons. The mean average 

temperature for the valley is -2 degrees centigrade and the mean annual precipitation is 40 centimeters. 

WATER 

Surface water in thearea is created by glacial melt, groundwater discharge, runoff, and snow melt. Drainage off Bonanza Ridge flows in a westerly direction, 

either as subsurface outwash or along the margin of the Kennicott Glacier. 

Numerous creeks drain the ridge, including the Amazon, Jumbo,Bonanza, and 

National Creek. National Creek flows through the mill town and is fed by several 

small springs before it disappears underground about 20 feet from the glacier 

and one-half mile below the concentration mill. 

SOILS 

Soils around the mill town are derived primarily from lateral moraine deposits 

associated with the Kennicott Glacier. Except for fluvial deposits along National 

Creek,poorly drained soils in naturally occurring topographic depressions.and 

disturbed areas from recent tailings, the remaining soils have developed from 

well-drained tills as old as I1,500 years. 

PA R T I 51 
VEGETATION 

Before Kennecott was developed in the early 1900s, the physiographic characterofthelandscape was largely the result ofrecurringPleistoceneand Holocene 

glacia.lactivity occurringover millions ofyears.Because ofthe repeated disturbances and the nature of the soils left behind, vegetation throughout the area 

was generally successional, supporting four primary plant communities and 

associations that stepped up the slope from the lateral moraine.The plant communities included: . 

Seral herbs located along the moraine with scattered and newly establishing fireweed, yellow drya, soapberry, and seedling willow 

Open white spruce forest with white spruce, balsam poplar, paper birch, 

and an understory of willow and alder 

Closed white spruce forest on the upper slopes, dominated by mature 

white spruce of mixed age, with some paper birch, and an understory of 

willow and alder 

"Riparian"along National Creek where willow and alder were prevalent 

along with barren areas left from repeated flooding 

Today a spruce-hardwood forest with alder, willow, poplar, and mixed herbaceous materials dominates existing vegetation at the site. In general there has 

been asignificant change in the vegetation throughout the mill town since the 

historic period. Now, virtually all of theland cleared during the historic period 

has undergone revegetation to some degree, and most historic roadways and 

trails have either disappeared or become narrow footpaths through tunnels of 

encroachingalder and willow. Except for privately owned property, vegetation 

in Kennecott is not maintained. 

HISTORIC STRUCTURES 

There are well over 100 historic structures in the historic mill town. With the 

recent acquisition ofproperty in the mill town, the National Park Service(NPS) 

now owns 13 primary historic buildings and multiple secondary structures. In 

addition to these buildings, the NPS is also responsible for other structures, 

including the tailings and remnants ofthe flumes, tramways,crib dam, holding 

ponds,ore bins, bridges, and the railroad trestle. Many of these structures are in 

52 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E R EPORT : KENN ECOT T M I L LTOWN 
EX I ST I NG CONDI T IONS 

poor condition and will require emergency stabilization measures to prevent 

further loss. Between 1997-1998, the Alaska Regional Office undertook a 

condition assessment of the historic structures. Findings from that work are 

referenced in the Analysis and Evaluation section of this report. 

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES 

Alarge number of industrial artifacts and features remain in the mill town and 

contribute to the character of the cultural landscape. Many of these features 

have significance for theirassociation with historic activities at Kennecott (1900-

1938),and they are managed as cultural resources. Included are various types 

of mining equipment and machinery, structural ruins, remnant cable, pipe, 

shieves, pulleys, and grinding wheels.There are also numerous artifacts from 

later periods of development,and although these features are compatible with 

the industrial character of the site, they are not managed as cultural resources. 

CIRCULATION AND ACCESS 

Vehicular access to the site is limited to the 3.5-mile road from the town of 

McCarthy,which enters the site from the south. Roads connecting the mill town 

with mine sites are located at thenorth end oftown.A narrow,dirt road extends 

north from the tram deck toward the Bonanza Mine site. This road provides 

local access only. Another road is used as a trail following the moraine north 

toward the Erie Mine. Within the mill town, access for vehicles is confined to 

the use of historic roads, including Silk Stocking Loop (figure 19). Parking 

areas are informal and somewhat random, sited on the basis of need. Virtually 

all roads through the mill town double as foot trails and provide pedestrian 

access to most areas. Other foot trails are very informal,suggesting a route with 

no clear boundaries ordefined tread. 

LAND USE 

Historic land uses in Kennecott reflected the activities associated with the mining and processing of ore, operations administration, housing for workers and 

staff,supportservices such as thestore,recreation (tennis court,gym,and handball court),storage for goods and waste,and civic functions such as the school, 

PART I 53 
nprt J9. Slr•t:lr ku dr,,r 1[nN1 tht 

Kmmmu,~.,.,,,...is,, 1991, (/:/J'S pl,ow 

fi/t.ll'RSTl 

dum:hes, and cemetery. For the most part these inJiv1du,1I IJnd ust acrivit 1es 

Wt>I\'generally concenlfllred ID specific areas or lhe mill town Beu!u.~e theLind 

scape de,clopro O\'C.r many yem and was strong!}' intluen,cJ l,y the natural 

land~apc. many ,pecificlllDJ use act1Y1ucs \I'm: mixeJ within the town Tlw~c 

land u~"' cam;: ro tln abrupt tnd ID 1938 when Kcnnm>ll offidolly ~topp,"tl 

operations llild JbanJonl.'d rl,r sit!!. 

Today, many of thf hi,tnnc co11~ges ,1nJ suiffquarte~arc owned and occupieJ 

by priwte residents.The Ktnnirnn Gl,1cie1 Llldge continues ro operate in a re 

built structure near lhe kic.ation ol tJ1e hrstom ,1partmcnt hollS('. Mixed use 

a.long lhe west side orthe cnr mnce road indudl~ housmgand o(ew businwcs 

supporting rourism and recreation. The largest pnrti1,n of the Mtc,hu1,•cvcr, re• 

mains mos:tly abandoned and is used for interpretation anJ lim111-J vi<itor ><.'f· 

1·icn (figure 20). 

, 

CULTUR4L L4NDSCAP£ REPORT KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 

NA AfDE ALUA110N 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

L

NATURAL S YSTEMS AND FEATURES 

ike other mming opention!>, the presence 1nd use ol na1ural resour-.cs 

and lc1r~e-scale landscape systems were major influcn,es on the developmt'nl and op"t'ration 01 the mines and ,oncentrJlllf at Kennecott from th1. 

early exploration and discovery of ore concentrarions on Bonnnza Ridge to the 

actual sitmg of processing facilities, inlr..1struc-turt:, ..1nd Jssociated sen i~es at 

theedge of the glacial moraine. the dramatic natural landforms and the general 

configuration of the landsC3pe ,;haped tht Kennl'(Otl opc!ratton am.l community. The valley sweeping down from Bonanza Ridge. the '-tl't!p terrain.,rnd the 

abrupt tenrnnus of the \alle}' at theglacial moramedefined the development ol 

processing.\tructures and the !:>iling of administrative builJings. staff housing.. 

and man; servicefudlities (figure 21 ). For example many ol the e.irl)' support 

services and structur~l; ,,erelocatt:d along the wagon road, whKh generally followed the natural contour north into the s1Le. 

Directly west of this comJor ,\·as the moraine anJ directly e-.isl wac; a hill that 

Fig11rtlJ J.."rnrll'ton,curn /913..llwi.u,g 

clroml 1-rgc:tatw,r, thr romrla OJ adm1111<rr,1-

tuH1 strwturcs. 111J thec,11•i'Zntrt.1tJ0111rr,/~ 

trom1<uy, crib Jam. andmih.,11, 11/,mg rJ,,, 

~t)IIIJII/ IJj llu pl,otogrnr/1 (1\k,m ColftYtio,1. 

RllSl1iuwn Ubmry. t,uwrmyvf.Ala!la. 

Fatrba11u,Ala.!1..a) 

P ART I 57 
was too steep for siting buildings without significant modification. The open 

area toward the moraine provided additional storage space (for the sawmill) 

and was also used as a waste area (dump). Eventually, as the circulation system 

and size of the development grew, these areas were modified by grading and 

structural terracing to support additional development. This was especially evident through the interior of the site along National Creek. In addition to the 

construction of a crib dam on the creek and an associated reservoir, topography in the core area was modified to create a series of building terraces. Here, 

the manager's office and residence,staffquarters, hospital,and offices were constructed.Ore bins were also constructed at the top ofthis area near the tram terminus, making use ofthe natural slope and constructing a log-retaining structure. 

Natural vegetation had a relatively short-term impact on development.As construction began, virtually all vegetation was cleared from every building site to 

allow for adequate construction space and staging of supplies and materials. 

The cut timber was used for fuel and construction material. Clearing trees was 

also necessary to control or reduce the risk of fire. By 1908, when the first wave 

of construction was over, approximately 30 percent of the original vegetation 

cover had been removed, creating a large clearing that stepped up the valley. 

Vegetation was also systematically cleared from the tramway corridors and associated terminals. 

Historically, the natural system that perhaps had the greatest influence on development of Kennecott was the mineral deposits of copper ore on Bonanza 

Ridge. Between 1900-190I, four mines-Bonanza, Jumbo, Erie,and Glacierwere established on the ridge above the moraine. In the years that followed, 

these mines yielded someofthe highest grades ofsurface copperore ever found. 

In spite of its remote location, Kennecott was by 1916 the third largest producer 

of copper in the U.S. As the deposits were mined over the next 20 years, the 

quantity of high-grade ores diminished. The shift was accompanied by the 

addition or modification of technology and associated machinery required to 

process increasingly leaner grades ofore. The concentration mill was modified 

several times to accommodate changes in ore processing technologies.The four 

primary processes were crushing,gravityconcentration.ammonialeaching,and 

flotation.' 

58 CUL T l/RAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
I\ NI\ l , Y CI C ANO t:: VA L UATION 

The mill town existed to facilitate the concentration and transportation of ore. 

Ore was concentrated to a point where it could bear the cost of transportation 

and return a profit after shipping it to Tacoma, Washington. The concentrator 

was the connection between the tramways and the railway. Oregoing out flowed 

south and goods coming in to support to operation flowed north from the coast. 

Everything in the mill town supported these efforts, usually directly.sometimes 

indirectly. Employee housing was essential. Water,heat,and sewer systems were 

necessary to support the industrial and domestic functions performed in the 

mill town. Both functions required their own maintenance and support services, ranging from machine shops to keep the equipment running to a recreation hall or tennis court to keep the workforce and management entertained. 

Other natural systems also had astrong impact on development at Kennecott. 

Key among these was a reliable water source for both the operation of the mill 

and for domestic use. In 1910,alogcribdamwas constructed on National Creek. 

Located at the top of a narrow gorge next to the camp,the dam supplied water 

for a small hydroelectric plant located at the north end of the site. This plant 

provided electricity for thedeveloping town and mines. Drinking water, as well 

as water J1eeded to operate the concentrator, was stored in a reservoir and 

carried to the lower town in wood and iron pipes.some ofwhich remain today. 

As the size and complexity of the operation grew, additional sources of water 

were tapped, notably Bonanza Creek, which supplied water through an 18-inch 

line.Water was also drawn from National Creek at asecond point some distance 

above the crib dam. These sources provided reliable water for Kennecott. Running through the middle of the mill town, National Creek was subject to seasonal and periodic floods and did considerable damage over the years, requiring many structures in this area to be rebuilt. 

SUMMARY 

Like other mining operations, the physical character and cultural landscape of 

Kennecott was historically linked to the supply and processing of naturally 

occurringoreandavailable water. In addition, the functional relationships within 

the physical complex ofthe mill town were influenced by large-scale landforms 

that created natural constraints and opportunities for site development. Many 

of these large-scale landforms, such as the ridge, valley, and moraine, remain 

today and contribute to the historical significance of the cultural landscape. 

PART I 59 
Major changes have occurred, however, to the interior of the site around National Creek. The integrity of the landscape-the historic structures,organization, use, circulation, and physical character-hasbeen affected by floods and 

repeated inundation,loss ofthe crib dam and integrity of the water conveyance 

system, modification of the area due to subsequent use,and the regeneration of 

vegetation over several years. Field documentation indicates that some remnant features (major buildings, wood pipe, iron pipe,cribbing,scattered plant 

materials from the gardens,and boardwalk) do remain in various states ofcondition and degrees of historical context and setting. These features are considered archeological resources and as an aggregate,contribute to the significance 

of the landscape. 

The entire historic miU town has been negatively affected by the regeneration 

ofvegetation throughout the site.With the exception ofprivate holdings where 

vegetation has been kept down or replaced with nonhistoric cover (turf grass), 

the overaU extent,scale,and characteristics that contribute to the cultural landscape are either covered with vegetation or significantly altered as a result of 

vegetation that post-dates the historic period. 

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 

Kennecott was spatially organized to accommodate mining activities such as 

the collection, transportation,storage,and processing ofore. Because the mines 

were located on the ridge above the mill town, they were separated by a significant distance from the processing complex. In addition, Jumbo, Bonanza, and 

Erie mines had their own structural complexes and support buildings, and in 

many ways were self-sustaining developments.' Individual mine camps were 

connected to the lower mill town by aerialtramways, creating a"spoke"system 

for funneling ore to the concentration mill. 

The initial structures built to connect the mines to the railway, process the ore, 

and support these operations were clustered along National Creek because it 

provided the single largest area ofavailable building space dose to the mill.The 

mill was sited to take advantage of a steep slope, available water, and provide a 

connection between the aerial tramways and the railway. Functions within this 

area were generally mixed, although structures requiring proximity to the rail60 CU L TURAL LANOSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT M I LLTOWN 
ANALYSIS ANO EVALUA T I ON 

waysuch as the train shed,depot,and warehouses, were sited closer to thegrade. 

Other structures, such as the residences not directly related to the railway, were 

farther away. 

As the scale ofthe operation increased, the structural core ofthe mill town was 

no longer sufficiently large to hold everything needed.Shops and warehouses 

associated with the railway or the tramway were built on level land made from 

tailings along the railway line. 

The spatial organization of the cultural landscape was influenced by two primary factors: the natural landforms, which influenced the type and extent of 

development in specific areas, and the siting ofstructures, which was based on 

the functional and logistical requirements of processing the ore and getting it 

to outside markets. Under the influence of these two factors, Kennecott formed 

around four areas ofspatial organization, which were logically related to land 

use patterns and circulationsystems. The fourareas of spatial organization can 

generaUy be identified as the industrial core.administrative core, housing area, 

and service-related facilities. 

INDUSTRIAL CORE 

The industrial core of Kennecott is most clearly reflected in the concentration 

mill, which grew between 1911- 1938 into a structural complex stepping down 

the hill from the terminus ofthe tramlines coming from the Bonanza and Jumbo 

mines (figure 22). From the tram deck at the top of the concentrator, ore traveled through the crushing operation and the gravity concentrator to the flotation and ammonia leaching plants,and ended either in rail cars or piles of tailings. This remarkable structural complex was the heart of the industrial 

townscape. Many of the support structures for the concentrator, including the 

powerplant, warehouses.machineshop, various small sheds and storage structures, and the rail system for transporting ore down thevalley, were sited either 

directly adjacent to or very near the concentrator. At this scale of operation, 

circulation depended on the tramlines bringing the ore to the plants and rail 

line for transport to ports and markets. Other patterns ofcirculation focused 

on the internal system associated with the operation of machinery within the 

concentrator. 

PA RT I 61 
fli,urr!1. \ft'Wn..,,thwu1Jfrrrti rltt r.ulwtff 

bM.~ 19.17, :lh,TJt 1~dtt co,ra'll'Sta,n 

.,d/.mJ,,,.J.n:,wi,.,. IM"", c,,&,r,.,,,, 

--~U1t""111t cf.~ 

Jiurlsi"4,ll.,,l..i.l 

MJ,,~,r 11,1rwPfta.lm,,ummntl'Of't.Jho-.·vtt 

I...W.11/h rolt...,,,Il"'"'""Y,,,.,,•rtt

ontl,,Jmt1Mm••~"'·,~u.,tf""ru:n,. 

l>mpi:a, Jm/Nl'11IWbo,i/,Jrnp l'lr«•\TJJ'II °"'

/~.kl (F,a,rrt<:w.Jlnrm.[,'Ol'<ofil,,. 

ll'R.IT.I 

ADMINISTRATIVE CORE 

Occupying th•· ccotr.il area w11h1n the rru11 town, the mJn~g..-r's oni~.ind res1 

cknc~, the ~tll!ll huusc, hospJral, bunkhouses, as11ay shed, nnd cnmmunuy g:ar 

Jen am1p<>sc the11Jmuusl!.11n-eC\'lf( (figure23) tnJi,idu.il buildings were lilrgtr 

and marr \tylikd tlun in other a= \>i tht 111w11 . Th..- manager·, residence 

rdk,ted ~ h1<'r,11\:hy .JllJi sooal smus typical ot \lthcr comp.iny 10"~ Con 

s1rn,1t-J in IStl I>,1he manager's house 1.;isa two•stocy mucture, painted ,~lutt. 

a-nd sirt-d un rhe highest ponion ofthe mill town. Cirodatitm 1hruugh rhis area 

was som1.·wh,11 formaliud .along ooanlwal~ th:il lin~,,J kei· bwldintt,~ stepping 

down thev;illey fn1m the ~nb J.un along ~ation:il Cleek and ,'.riding111 the mil62 CULTUR.t.L L"NDSCAPE REPORT K£N~:tCOTT MIL.L TOWN 
A AL't' I AND EVALUATION 

road.Small-s1.ale f~turu. :.uch as picket fences anJ dothesline:,. added a Jome.s1k lJUalit) to this an.'ll. 

H OUSING AREA 

Two functionally related clusters of cottages anJ residential structures on the 

north anJ south )ides of the mill town made up the housing core (figure 24). 

North ofthe concentrator. four individual couagt:) were constructed hetween 

1908-1915 on the east siJe of the railroad tracks.These cottages were the first 

conslruded in the mill town and they provideJ housing for farnilks. As the 

town expanded between 1915-1938.fourmor, cottages werebuiltdu-ectlrwest. 

These collages mcluded lined basements and carwalks to tndi\'idual prt\'les. 

Coll&:tivel)', these structuf\"5 Jdined the northern edge oi th~ mill tt.1\vn. Also 

during this period.seven collages making up"Sill,, Stocking Row..were huilt on 

the hill south of the crib dam. These residences also had several assodateJ oulbuildin~including garages, c:hkken coops, outhouse~. and garden~. 

Down the ~lope from Silk Stocking Row, eight tent colta~ were established 

between I908-1915 aJong thnaiJ lme, Lheo replaced in 1916 with individual 

cottages. In uus same area, an aparonem building was constructed, prov1d.ing 

five, four-room apartmenl-s tor guests. Tht:Se resiJential structures created the 

southern edge ofthe mill town. Housing for worke~ was pro\·ide<l in two bunkhouses, which, in addition to staffquarters, wi:re located in the aJministrative 

frgurr 14 l 'ielo '1jci>tlJJgtJ III tilt north rnJI.I} 

lht mill IQ\I n.nr,a /9)(1 (fim \L:Gaiwl 

pl1otoJiks. WRSJ:J 

PART I 63 
l 

area. An additional bunkhouse was also located along the west side of the rail 

corridor between thecarpenter shopand the store and warehouse. 

SERVICE-RELATED STRUCTURES 

The fourth core area defining the spatial organization of the landscape was created by the rail line, which ran through the lower town and formed a strong 

linear orientation to the support structures,serv_ices,and facilities along its corridor. Established early in the development of Kennecott,the rail line ran north 

to south, dividing the town rather dramatically. Although the town naturally 

developed along a north-south axis, following the lateral moraine, the rail line 

emphasized this orientation. 

SUMMARY 

Four core areas historically defined the spatial organization of the Kennecott 

landscape. While virtuallyall development was directly tied to the operation of 

the concentration mill, the landscape historically reflected distinct patterns of 

spatial organizationbased on function, land use, circulation patterns, and the 

structures supporting the concentrator. In some ways, thespatial organization 

of the town reflects a layout typical ofother company towns. There is aseparation and conceptual hierarchy of the residents, with staff and management 

occupying larger, individual homes on prominent locations and workers living 

in barracks in thelower portions of town. 

Ofthe four areas defining the spatial organization of Kennecott between 1908-

1938, three retain a relatively high degree ofspatial integrity: the industrial complexand support structures, the housing areas, and the railroad corridor. The 

administrative core ofthe mill town along National Creekhas lost integrity of 

spatial organization due to repeated inundation and seasonal flooding and 

encroaching vegetation. Further, reestablishment of vegetationthroughout the 

town has made it difficult to discern the functional relationships amongall the 

key areas of Kennecott. In spite of this impact, the physical space and concentration ofresources in theindustrial area, housing areas,and therailroad corridor remains and contributes to the significance of the cultural landscape. 

64 CULTU R A L LAND SCAPE R EPORT: KENNECOTT MI LL T OWN 
CIRCULATION SYSTEMS 

Th< ~rliest ciTCULluon systems at Kcnno:011 were mremkJ tu connect the 

remo1e min<'S on Oonaru.a Ridge 10 porlA \Onie 200 mill" duwn th~ vallev.~nJ 

e-·en more distant marki:rs.fa'en beforeJcvdopmcnt 111 the mill tt1wn, theAJ.uka 

Syndic.mi set.uide fonds 10.-onsrru,1 .a whoJJ linr,gu.uJnltcing llic immc 

Jiatc US<-oftheir srcarruh,p lines 111 '-"' ry ore Ill smelter.< in t,coma, \\'lllung• 

ton Un uJ the rail line w.i.s ,on.wu,wJ. mo~I ,uprli~ required at the sit< were 

haulc:J dunng the winter,~sonby hur-C!!> Jlnng llw CopJlt'T and Chitin.-i rivers, 

or bysloed from \'alJa. B) 1907,su,arn1"1at, were usaJ to bringequiplm'nt anJ 

supply.-onstructioncrew, wcir:l<ing on 1h1• rail line. Durin~ this period.a w.igon 

route w,u conmu"eJ hJ the Chi11na Ri,cr, impniving supply systems to 1hr 

sne. SClSOIIS lorcr, rht~ roaJ w.u improved anJ icrvt'd a1 1he prim.lry ace~ 

route to the 1,1e, rn~,inl( '1arinnJI Crcd, b.:iort' heading up the ridge ro the 

mines. By 1908, ,oru1rucr111n on a 11\,000.loot aerial 1ramW'il}' btrw·ccn lhe 

Uonall7.a Mine anJ th<' dc1tlopin1:t mill town bdow was wcll under wuy, 

supplementing tile 111n1'cnll'lll t>I surrlie.Jml materials. £\'l!ntu.111)' lruS ltne""uld 

cmyup 10600 tonsuf '"l'J!C'' aJay b..'tl<«n the mine;inJthtconarur.11ion mill 

Betw,en 1908-1915, corr ~,rcufauon systems \'.er., e,,l~blishcd thar wuuld 

inOuenC't' virtually all future de1·efopmem ar Kenne.1:111. K,•y tu lhi\ cir, ulatfon 

sy!lem was theraillineconnr.ctinglli~mill town wi1hCordov.i,llho11t 196 milo 

awa,· (fipire 25). In l908, the Copptr R11u .inJ ~ord1w,'!>I Raihm• cn,~ the 

C.Oppt'T Ri,·er at Flag Point nnrConfov.1 Aftl'l' m.iny phy..,.11 and rolitiC'III nb 

slnde$, the railroad lin31Jy reached llle Ken1u.-..11ll min~ 111 the spring of !911, 

flt.rt2$ /l.alr,,.Jlrarir tn,o:o;o 1/:ctmll 

h"m -tJ,,,nm,rry/wt.,ilb!.k '""""' 

.wJ...,.,.i,4 '-•It '"' """'",..JaJrodlnt 

•1 1~, h,JJ.,outi, oflb,~o,JJ.h"""~uUd;..,,._ 

P1>•1f1r•r~CITl- /91.l IAl,..,,(dJ,-.Jmtt, 

Rrl.V'WJlJ'l ltDh."TUO: 1..1' Ala.t.k.a. 

F11,t,,nh .~.i_u J 

PAfll I 65 
The track entered the site from the south on an alignmentjusteast of the existing wagon road. Extending north, the track crossed National Creek on a 

256-foot trestle bridge and ended at the ore bins at the base of the concentration mill.Completion of the railroad had a dramatic effect on construction at 

Kennecoll. First, it provided a reliable source ofsupplies and a transportation 

system for the ore. Second, the railroad est/lblished astrong linear framework 

for both the structural and functional development of the mill town. 

In 1913,asecond tramway was completed connecting the Jumbo Mine with the 

concentrator below. As a result (and in spite of constant maintenance demands 

on the towers), the two trams 10 Bonanza and Jumbo mines became the pri• 

mary link between the mine sites and the mill town. (The Erie and Mother Lode 

mines were linked with the Jumbo and Bonanza trams via a 12,000-foot tunnel. 

The Glacier Mine was linked to the Jumbo tram al the junction station.) 

While the early wagon road through the mill town continued to be used during 

this period, it was rerouted in some areas to facilitate circulation in relation to 

the rail line. The original route, however, remained basically the same, especially as it led up the south side of National Creek before crossing and heading 

north to the mines.An additional road was established north of the concentration mill, connecting the tram terminus at the top with the new collages at the 

north end of the growing town. 

Also during this period,wood plank boardwalks were constructed, linking primary residential structures (cottages and staffquarters) and service buildings 

(the hospital, manager's office, and assay office). While these boardwalks primarily served afunctional purpose,they also served to formalize footpathsand 

provided some sense of domesticity in an otherwise industrial landscape 

(figure 26). Jn contrast, the paths between the industrial buildings were based 

on need and function, were informal in character, and did not follow straight 

lines and sharp angles. 

Between 1915-1938 the circulation system was expanded once more 10 provide access between new residential structures and staffhousing on the southern portion of the site and services within the mill town. Silk Stocking Loop 

extended from the crib dam on National Creek, past the collages,and down the 

66 CULTURA L LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MILL T OWN 
A t, A L V !5 I ,_ A N D I:: • JI L lJ A l I O !< 

rl)!urr !~ k\,,J /.,.r,J•-.J.u .,,,J ~ /'":lu 

thm"Jls N IIJ1•,u.nJUt1Jtaf' "'""' l1J riv ~JJ 

4>•11. (1n1rntJV•'"W1knt.bnp.nrri.1 l~Jy 

INiOIO ""'11Df off1l ,IJ.,IJir, ~y,~J 

side of tht hiD above the newly constru.icd dpartmcrnl IJOUSI!, mnnccting with 

the wagon iood across from 1hc srntc .1111.l wm·huuse 

Wi1h few minor Ji,ltlg"', !ht circ11L11i,m s)>lnn of rail line, lli!IIl\'<.l}'S, wagon 

road, boardwalks, anJ ro111palh\ mnJineJ in use through aU s1g111!ic~n1 

pmodsof de~opmcnr Jnd ,1pcnn1n11 

SUMMARY 

ummg and remruuu drcul4tiun ~y,r,•m., 11nd fe.11um from all thrtt historic 

paiods mnam ill Kcrmo:otl, mv11riablc,ondilion. Of the b.rgc-scalc primary 

systems, the nlil line1cnuin~ in 11, nnginol position,.ii.though ii has been long 

abanJoncd as an J.ti\t lratk. TI1c l~t!e l,riJe,r and Mime of the tcrrac,.,. 

~upportingthernil g,raJcha\cb,xn m>uih orstabilized. ·1 he righ1-of-1,dy fun.c• 

uoru a~ I.be ttcrmmu~ of the road from McC.1.rth)· a.nd rcmauu the prn1~1t)' 

nc.cst 10 the ~11c IO(l.Jy. Thr nlJ '"'81>" road romc is J.is.:ernihk as II p,ISSct, the 

Kdlnc.:~11 cl!ll1e1cn <'111eting lhc mm town from the somh d3 iiJkl h1,1om.1llr 

11 ii. u,al tod.i) h> hik,,-r'.\ amJ t,ikmirnm McCarthy.Silk Stodmg lo()pnoJ the 

route clown the hill on the norlb side of the rne .ibo rrm,1in, TI1<: tramlines 

survhr ~ remnanl6. Of the many bo.u-dwalks 1ha1 Wle'l"C pm.<'nl h1storirn.li)', 

onl) one"'Sm<nl rem.uru intact. that l,eing tho: nnr in lmnt o'1heco11a~ on 

thct.ul ~iJeoflh(-roaJ pa,1 lbecon.:cntr,11<,r 

The primary am1Lumn s)·stems 1ha1 ~m.un lodai· include the rail line anJ 

comde>r, pri111.1q ro.iJ1 plu~ th.., north IOllp, Sil.I,. StockingLoop. !ht mdd up the 

sau1h side of'rat.1on.il Cr.1.-I.. the n'.mnanb of the 1ram1111~.11.nd the <1IJ 1,.igi,11 

roaJ. o,·esaJI,Ul«$tmcul•L1Un ~)'$ll'lll., h.ive ahJgh degree of micgrity anJ ~untribu1r lo lhe overall ,i11nilkance ol the distnct. ln aJdi11on, Scn·rnl minor 

67 
~ ~-·_~. :~;·_. -.~ •. . '. ;,.r~~ -ita:•·:-­ .. .,:.:.••..... ,. . .,,:..('-. ;· . .-•; \: .\• . _. •-'""',; ,. . J ' ..,. I , . ", . .. ·~., ........ 4 ,I(. . . 4., ·_, -w., ·.. .... -• 

'.~·"' ·' •. ' -........t..~ - .._ .., .,.s· 

.,-...... . • ..;J f!',•· -2::, _,, .-. 

Figurf17 Remnant bOo11di.,i/J.. ,ta11m 1111ron1 

ofcr,,tl.JJ-tJ .UQrrg thenorth r:ndIJ} thtmiff 

tmrn (,\'PS,ph,1t11/11t. l~RST, 1~7} 

ft>aturc.-s contribute as remnant (eatur~ ul c1rcula1irin. These.' indude thl' segment of boardwalk in front of "ouagc-) l.fa-e,a p,1r1ion of ,,airway~•. railing. 

and boan.lwalk in the ~ational Creekarea and hell1,,• S"tlk Sto1.king Row (tiigure 27). 

STRUCTURES 

Bel\H:en 1915- 1938, the f.:ennecott mill town was made up ol well c1,cr 100 

primarv and se,\mtl.iry )lru(tures, induJmg a \'ariety of mill builJing) and 

support scructurt:S.ore bins.wn~c:)nr'>, tram\,ays. cailing.s. llumes.darns, holding ponds, bridgo, and railroad~, ruetures. 

T RAMWAYS 

The first1ramwar co11s1ructed al Kennerntl was completed in I909 (fii~ure 28). 

This three-milt: at:rnl line began at the Ronan1.a Mme and extended approxiJTI.ltdy--t,000 leet down the ridge to thecomentratmn mill.An angle sl311ton was 

~ileJ half\'t,1y Juwn the ridge. A1 the mine, ort· \,as stockpiled in a thr(.'e-•aory 

orehin for tran~port to theconccntratorand Imm thc-rl" it \\as loalled imo bu,kets 

on wire cables supporti:d up by wot1J towers. The tram not onl) lr-Jnsporied 

ore to the cnncc..n1rator, hut it aho lransporlc:J workers .md \.Jrric:<l supplies 10 

lhe mtne site. 

Jn 1913 anothl'r tmmwa)' w.lS constructed, extending four mik~ from the tcr· 

minus of Jumbo iHne below Castle Peak to tllt' Kennc1.utl co1Ktntration mill 

This Iram supe~t-deJ tht: use ot a \\·agon ro,1d for ore removal. 

Following the Jumbo tramline,a jundi<'n "tat1on (,;tJlilln #3) was 1.on<.tructed 

and d "spur"tramlinc wa'- huilt bdv.ecn 1916- l920, linking the l,lader \1ine lo 

thl.'. conct!ntrator. Thb line also rarrit'.d ,ire fnim the Boni1nza ~line sit'-' when 

snow dJrnagt:d thatIine.The station itselfconsists of a l\\o-.stury building. miscdlancous 111.1\.hincry (cable, bull wheels.and huckcts),anJ an oper.uor's house. 

Remnants oi the 1ramw.1ysy~tem al Kcnnccotl indude c-.1bles, rram tow,~rs.. 1unc1ion houses.1ramJecb.and ore bins. Thest structure._ andassociated features 

are sttile\ 1Jent in the lands.:ape of Kennecott an<l arc con1rii:lu1ing rest)un:es of 

the \.Ullural lanJ,;cape. 

68 CU LT U R AL LA ~. 0 SC A PE REPORT K EN N ECO TT M I LL TOWN 
ANALYSIS ANO EVALUATION 

' \ . i 

PART I 

69 
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

BRIDGES 

From 1900-1938,several bridges were constructed across the National Creek 

corridor as part of the wagon road, rail system, and pedestrian circulation systems through the mill town. By 1938 as many as five bridges crossed National 

Creek. lwo were associated with the wagon road as it crossed the creek from the 

south. One of the bridges was sited above the crib dam and the other below it 

where the road crossed the creek to the warehouse (Building #78). Two pedestrian bridges were also constructed, both of which were below the crib dam. 

The easternmost bridge connected the route from Silk Stocking Row to the 

administrative core. The other bridge connected the hospital on the north side 

of the creek with the bunkhouses on the south side. The other major bridge 

structure was the railroad trestle, crossing the creek as it flowed out to the moraine. All of these structures were constructed oftimber. 

Today there are four crossings on National Creek, including the railroad trestle, 

the access road east ofthe main road, apedestrian bridge below the crib dam, 

and afootpath crossing the creek above the crib dam.All of the crossings are in 

their historic location, but only the railroad trestle and the pedestrian bridge 

below the crib dam retain physical integrity and are contributing structures. 

The other crossings have been structurally modified. Although they are compatible in terms of location and association, they do not retain the historic 

design, material, or character, and are therefore not contributing. 

RAILROAD TRESTLE 

The Copper River and Northwest Railway reached Kennecott from the Port of 

Cordova in 191 I. The rail line entered the mill town from the south, crossing a 

250-foot trestle and terminating at the concentrator (figure 29). The railway 

and associated trestle became the dominant circulation structure in the town, 

defining the overall industrial infrastructure and building complex. The trestle 

originally served two pairs of tracks, one pair on the west and one on the east. 

The rail bed was constructed ofpressure-treated beams, cribbing, and railroad 

ties. The posts supporting the bed structure are a combination of pressuretreated round poles and untreated spruce trees. 

The railroad trestle is an important historic structure and although it is in poor 

condition, is still an important contributing feature ofthe Kennecott mill town. 

PA RT I 71 
"'"".l)I 11.,JN.ulltf<ZI, ,_..,.~·Itlo.,u 

WA (//~,.i,o,.{,i, 11'/(Sl IVW</ 

TAILINGS 

The tailing., ~t Kcnne.."(lt111e~ in1<-,.1i~Kl<'U ill 1992 10 determmc thdr struc• 

turt .ind cnmposrtion (figure J0).11.uti.1 on thl, ,,.irl.. the l'Jl.lXimum d~th of 

1aili11!11' rn ,mil nJJiK:mt ta the mill tow1~ is ,1rp111<im.11,~y 12.11 feeL Compositiun i,95 rcr-:rnl limestone due lnrgdy to 1hecfficicncy al the copper rec:o,·ery 

rnx.-ss The nlilest bullngs "'ere deposited on l>oth sidl"i ,111J w,-st of the ,-on 

,entrottnn rnill 11•e le.1rhing rl.1111 was l~uih a1op some t1I these tJ11ing.~. which 

were inttntinn;lll)' ('la,;,-J 1nur.11c ,1 bwlt.lmgsite over the mllr11ine.1lt1lin1ta&<' 

increases vertically Thr ~t,011J ph:iseot mtlmgdcposition was west of thr l1roch• 

ms plant. The thin! pha,c t\ rerresenr<.J by the tailings south of National Cl\'C~. 

Acoven.I rom·eyor 1'1!, buth Imm thr l1~ch1ng plant aams the creek II' alo,.J• 

tion \\es! ofthe comrany store (11\'crlJ)'ihg tl1eglno.il mor.unedepositsl The.st 

wling.~ arc sparsdy '"!;'iatcJilut to th1: h,pi pen~Jbilnyand lack ofOig;!Dk 

\f.111 a,ntem 1bat bas mard(d plant e-sl,1~li5hnlenl 

lhcrthe )'~rs.thf tailin&' ha," l>t.-.:n usi:d d.'>J!l6'i~tembuildingfoumhtions 

,111d tor surf.Icing roao.ls ~nJ amtrip~ in the Ktnn,,am :..t,canhy .uea.Still it is 

csttmatl'd th.it !ht \'Olume of tnilings 1rcm.1i11111~ at the \1te 1s approxurundy 

MJ0,000 wh,,;-)'arJs. Tailings m import3nl ph~kdl ,1ru1.tur~ from the lustunc rtrinJ •nil they «inrrlbwc w the ,:uhural 1Jm!M:3pc' ' 

72 CUI.TURAL LANDSCCAPt R£PORT KCNNECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYSI S AND E VALUAT I ON 

J 

0!') ,.. 1tl'°tl ,, ; ; : : . ~., L 

. 

! l 

! • 

• I 

' I 

• I 

PA RT I 

73 
IINALY,.;1:; ANO t,:VALUATION 

BUILDINGS 

Architectural Character 

The buildings in Kennecott reflect the various stages ofdevelopment and adaptive use over several years. Most of the buildings are of wood frame construction on post and sill foundations and have gabled roofs, although several cottages have hipped roofs.' Buildings associated with heavy industry are of post 

and beam construction on wood post foundations.Thelarge concentration mill, 

built on the steep hillside, is supported on cribbing. 

The majority of the buildings and structures in Kennecott have horizontal siding. Four of the early residences, cottages I3a-f, have board and batten siding, 

while several small sqeds have metal siding_and roofs. Eaves and verge detailing vary both by construction date and the importance of the structure. Windows range from one-over-one.double-hung units in the domestic and administrative structures, to four-over-four and six-over-six, double-hung windows 

in the industrial structures and older cottages. In some cases,double-hungwindows were turned sideways to accommodate grade and architectural convenience. With few exceptions, the wood frame structures were painted red with 

white sash. Small utilitarian structures, such as woodsheds, privies, chicken 

houses, cold frames, and boardwalks, were also made of wood or metal. 

Altogether there were 76 primary and secondary buildings in the mill town 

duringthehistoric period (1915-1938).While manyofthesebuildings are small 

outbuildings, sheds, and cable houses, the physical collection ofbuildings as a 

whole and their function in the context of the mining operationat Kennecott 

are considered significant and contributing to the cultural landscape. 

The following summary ofbuildings includes documentation forboth publicly 

and privatelyowned structures. Forthe primarybuildings managed by the NPS, 

information includes: the name of the structure, the building number, date of 

construction, size in square feet, lot number, and a physical description and 

significance statement. The priority for treatment is also ranked from very high 

to low according to historical and architectural value.• 

PART I 75 
---------------- --- ------- S IGNIFICANT BUILDINGS, 

Ma11agn's Offia (figi1rr 31) 

BuildingNumber I 

Date ofConstruction: I906. I!Kl7 

Square Ifft: 2ASI 

Lot Mill RcscrYat1oa 

Owner.hip: Public 

Desaiption: lluih in ,1ngn. 1he C1riginal portion of the m,m,1gcr'b office is a onc-anJ-J-h,1lf-s1ory, saddle-notd1ed log 

structul'l' with sill log lounJ~lion.TI1e main 1.foor a.nJ l1't> winJow, al\' <>n lhe >!(1111!, ra,adr On!'-<lwr-one, doubl.--hung 

windows a"in1heg11blemd abow thetir1t lloor.An JJditiun 1sse1ood11111 the wt5t sidroflhelogMru(tureand h,~a n>ul 

linerunningpcrpendicular to the original rool.A miaU one-slnl)' Oflke wing w:ts ,100 ,vnstruttt'tl on theeaSI side.And on 

the rear ofthe log~truci~. a largt" rwo-story wing was construcitJ 

Signllkance: fh1s structureis lheea,diest documented structu"built at Kenofl:olt.aml was the administralive renter for 

the miningoperJ11on.Likeother stTUctU!Ci~ Kmnecou.odd1tions to the building were madt' 10accommod:i~ lhc exp311 

sit>n 01 m,ning oreratioos.. Inc office b iUCrulccturally stgn1Jica.n1, "Oecunga dis1inct building technology a.nd style, and 

i$ hiswioilly ~,gn,fkant fur its .isso<J.:mon with lhc mroing opera11on111f Kennecot1. 

llistorirnl Value: High 

Architectural Value: High 

<hw.til Value: Hiih 

76 CIJLTUllt.L Lt.NOSCAPE REPORT KE,..NECOTT MILLTOWN 
ANALYSIS All0 EYAI..UAltON 

S IGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

Tr.im Tr1mmu,(Jig11ft' 32Y 

Building ~umber 2 

0-dleofLnnstrncJion· 1908 

Square reet: S«Building,.3 

Lot· Mill Reservation 

Owner.mip: Public 

(NP!i,,pl, •;ju,. h'/lST) 

Description. A large declc on the iop portion oithe concencraLion rru11 (Building 3), the strucrllrt'sen·ed 11s the terminus 

for the lr3mwJy to the mines on Bonnnz.i RiJgt- Both the ll'\lm deck and the upper concenrra1or were covered by n long 

gable roof. with J cross gable 0>'t'r the first structural bay to the Wt'SI. The entire upper kvel ~ ronstruct(d on a heavy 

timber post o111J beam framework. simi11r to the railroad tttstle. 

Significnncc Th,s mm1ure is physreallyand functionally associated both with the lrllmw:iys and the concenll'31ion null 

h ~ ar,hitixturJII) ,1nJ hL,t,,11.:ally slgnific.1111 for j3asso,::iJtion with the mining opu.iuons of Kennecott. 

Historical Vnluc: \'er) High 

Ar.:hilcdura)Value:\',ir) Hijlh 

OvemUValu~\~ry High 

P.pn-J1. Tran, tam,.., 1irM,/'""" du,...,,, stJ,o/ ,'i.111,,iw/ Owl; /~ 

PART I 77 
--------------------------- SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

(011rn11rotion ,Ifill (figurr.HJ 

Building Numl>u. 3 

DateofCon~truwon; 19H.l, l\!l;,and 1921 

Square ~t:85,000 

Lot Mill R.eservauon 

Owner..hip. Public 

Fl;ru,tJ.l 1-.,.. ,.,nh.-.u-JtQoJtil 1/Jtm•••mtrJTiM mlll. /99,t (NPSpiwt• 

Jik. W/11,1/ 

De5cription- Thcetmcen1,atiun mill ~a 14-~to,y,mulu-g.wlc.;,wd frame~trUC=in tbeccnwof Ktnn«orL Easili• the 

010$1 imprcssll'tsrructwt' m Lile mill 1nwn, 11 is built on aseries of t«roccssupportt'd by limber cribbing.stepping 150 f«t 

up the hill on the east side ofthe rail line. The concenuauon mill is the product ofnumerous bwlding modifications.each 

rcllcctmgclrnnge 10 the tl'Chnology .mdexpansion of the mining operation (figuR .B). Additions to lhe original $tructure 

wert consirudro 10 hou.~ various ~uppon s1ruc1urcs for op<ming the concemrator, water tanks, spact' for m«honical 

4'<1llipml'llt,a11J storageWuidows lhroughout thebuildiog includedouble and sinslesash, randomly pbad dt'pemling on 

interior mtuiremcnts wr li!tlning. Later Jilditions ha,,.. brackl-~ g.ible ends, although pl.3m ,-ergc boan!s with exposed 

purlins an.- moM rommon 

Signi6arncc! Tll(' con«111r.u,on mill is the historic am.I ~1ruc1ural h!!'.trt ofthe mill town. Through !his structure, cop~r 

or? from tht mines nn thr ridsv1,•..s.:onccn1rntt<lthrough,1 longscries ofmc'Cbaniml procc:sse; betore WldergpingchMu 

cal St'pamtion in thelroch,ng plant and shipment 10Conlova. Theamrcntrutor provided the trm.tjcion bt-rwren the moun 

Ill.ins,thtleaching plant,and the ou tsillr m.irkct c,;onomy.Thi) hmltling" dn:h110...1ur~lly ,md hisrorkally signiflCilnl for 

its associotion with the mining opcnilion~ uf l(rom:co11 . 

Historical Value:Very high 

An'..hirccrural Value:Yi!rj' high 

o,cnill Value: \ery lugh 

78 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT KENNECOTT MILLTOWN 
NAL SIS ANO E V A LUATION 

SIGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

Bu11kJ1ou.st (figure 34) 

Building ~umber: 5 

Dateol Construi:tion: 1908 

Square Feet:3,750 

Lot60 

Ownership: Public 

• ' T'9 .,

. '·~ - V': • 

~~~~ - ·.·.· , -...., 111111

~-~ '!>-_· 11~·1~1,.;i-, ·r, _·~"" '· 

I r~, - i . EB .~, -- . . 

----~- ~ - ···11' "'. . -- - ......._ ... - ... , -• • ·· '-e·. -...., ., • 

~ -.1'.!:i..'4,,- _..l,...a.~·- ...; 

.. 

F~TUrt J4. Bu11kl1amc 11l,mg N.,wmal Cr«.l (NP.\ photojilr. WRST 1998) 

Description- l>iteJ along ~ational Creek, this bunkhouse is a rectangular, one-and-a-half-story strudure with a gable 

roof, and shed mofdormer on the south side. l\rn gable rooidormers pro\'idt.• aJditionaJ light am.I spnce to the north and 

south side rooms. Ashed-roofeJ porch is on the south side of the builJing, extending the length of the Slnlcture. The 

boardwalk on the north side of the building has been buried by nood rubble. Gable and verge overhangs Jredetailed with 

a narro,, fascia board. 

ignificance:This IS the first bunkhouse constructed al the sue. and it housed die majority ofsinglt• men working at the 

concentration mill This structure is significant for its asi;ociation with the rninmg operations of Kennecott. 

HistoricalValue: ~tedium 

Architect u_ral Value: High 

Overall Value: High 

PA RT I 79 
SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

AwyO.f!ic"(figurr .l5) 

Building Nwnbt'r 8 

Da1c orConstrucuon: 1910 

Square r«t:512 

Lot61 

Ownership:Publk 

Description: The .tSSay office is a small. one•s1ory, wood from~ wuclure, lvoueJ east or Na1ion;tl Creek. Primaril~ a 

functional structure. there an.' (ew decorau,·c reatures. four-o,·cr•four,double-hung wimlow, ~ I01...1ied to provide light 

fur interiorw1trk an.,tS.A louvered ridge cupola pro\'ides \'ffltifo1ion to lhc Jttit 

Significance:Thi, structure is sign@can1 tor i1s hisrorical assooation with lhc mining <,pterali<ln~ nt K~oa:ott. 

l:listodcal Value: High 

Aftlti1ec1w.,J Value: Low 

Overall Vllluc: Medium 

80 CULTURAL LANOSC .. PE REPORT KENNECOTT M ILLTOWN 
A Al. ANO E''1.I\LU TIOt.l 

SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

Puwer Plant (fig11re 36) 

Building Number: 9 

Datt: of Construction: 19249 

quare Feet: 13,218 

Lot Mill Reserv.nion 

Ownership: Public 

rtgutt1⁄4. v;...., ,wrthM!Stwi.'llrdthe po,.,rrpl.lrn i.,rhjourmwltsrarh 

(NP5,pnDti Jilt, WJ,'ST.1998.) 

Description: Characterired by four to,,·ering smoke stacks and constrm:teJ in three phast$, tht: power plant is a three 

story structure located nonh of the concentrJIion mill on the w~I s1dt of tht' railmad corridor. The south portion of the 

structure has asheet metal gable roofand tall, nine-over-nine, double-hung windows. PandeJ doors pro,·ide access to the 

south platfonn and fronl entrance of the stnKlUre. The north side of the building ha'- an addition that includes a lower 

story with a central doorway and si.x-over-six,Jouble-hung windows.A three-story wesl wing extends downhtll lrom the 

rear ofthesouth portion of the structure. One-story shL-d roofs flank this wing. 

Significance: This s1ructure provided powa for lhc entire mill town,for both industry and domestic use. The building is 

architectural!)• Jnd historically significant for i~ association with the mining operations of Kennecott 

Historical Value: High 

Architectural Value: High 

Overall Value; High 

PAR T I 81 
SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

Leaching u11d F/01atio11 P/QJII (figure Jl) 

Bui?Jiog Numbtl. 15 

OateofConstrucLion: l':11(), 1917,1\118,and 19.!.J 

(stickingshed) 

Squ= reer: 22.200 

Lot: MiU Reserv1uion 

Ownership: Public 

Des.cription:Tbe leaching plant i.~ on !he \'oest side of !he railrond bed, north of Natlorol Creek. Aonto and a halr story, 

\'o'OOO frame mucture with a hasemem optnmg to !he rear (1⁄4est) gradr, the builJingis utilitarian 10 nature. lla1•ing Little 

ornnmcmauon. lhe plant iSchnracter11.td b) varying roorhnes rtfit'Cting perl()(ls ofgmwth .ind de1-ewpmcm in !he mm 

mgoperation.~ mKcnnt:COtLTheorrginal portion of!hestructure (now collapst.it cont.uns the leachmg t,1nks and is one 

~,or,· bdow gnide, withe centr.tl g,iblt;d wing ~t<'llding to rhr ro,1dw.1y. SiX-Ol'tcr-six. double-hung wmdows are common 

un the tin.I fluor,ani.l si>. liglu wfndow,, are on the semnJ lloor. AM1l•\tory addition on !henorth end of ilte strunurr has 

nrc111nll pavilion, whh Jnuhlc dc,or,, opening toWJnl a lo,1Jing Jock.it the ~id~ dcl'Jtion. 

Sig:milic.mce: Although acid leathing method.$ wt-re pmcti1;4,I in the pm.essing ol ooppcr ore prior hl 1916. the unique 

geology of th< Wrangell Mountains pft'\'t'nted the applkation of iltb t«hnique at Kenn«otL As a result, t~ w1>rld~ h"t 

3111monia leaching plant was tit-sign~ and installtd at Krnn~tl. ThL> $tru,ture reflc, ts a ma;or ron1rlbu11,in 10 1hc tt'\"h• 

oologyofcopptr miningand isan:hitecturally and historicnlly->igniliC'3nt for itsossociation"'ith the mininttop,:mtiu,n ui 

KcnnN:ott. 

F!istorirnl 1⁄2Jue: \'ery high 

Ard1i1ec111rnl Voluc: Very high 

Ore1:aJI Voh1c: Very high 

82 CUl.TUR.\l. LANDSCAPE REPORT KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYSIS -. No EVALUATION 

SIGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

Recreation Hall (figure 38) 

Building Number: 18 

Date of Construction: 1916 

Square Feet 2,280 

Lot: 7 

Ownership: Public 

F,gurt JS Rtm,uwn hill/. i.m ekmtio11 (,VPS photoflit, l'IRSI; IW/ ) 

Description: The recreation hall is located on the wesl side of the railroad corridor south of 'ational Creek. A two-story, 

balloon fram~ structure. the hall is reannguJar in shape and set on 6x6 wood post foundations. Two louvered cupolas 

pro,•ide ventilation at the ridge of the gable roof. Windows are four-over-four,double-hungsash. 

ignificance:As the center of social activity in lhe mall town, the recreation hall was the site of numerous rommunit}' 

gatherings such as films,dances, basketball games,n.nd bofjday part ics. Prov1ding a center for recreation withiu the im.lustriaJ town, the hall was a sig.nificant builJing in the social frameMrk of tht: community. The building is ar\..hitecturaUy 

significant for its association with the mining operations in Kennecott and for its historical association with Lhe lifowars of 

the Kennecott communit)'. 

Historical Value: Medium 

Architectural Va.Joe: .\fedium 

Overall Value: Medium 

PA RT I 83 
SIGN IFICANT BUILDINGS 

l\est 8u11kh11usr (fixure 39) 

Building Number I'l 

Date ol Con.stru<1,on. 

Square Feet: II .830 

u,t: 12 

Ownership· l'ubli, 

Description: Tbe west bunkhoU5C is a rectungular, balloon-frame. four-story $trucl1Jre, orknti:d perpendKular 10 the 

west sidr uf the main road, south of ~1tional Credi. The found.ttJon as 1,·ood post on pier There is ng.ibl..- nxit ov~r the 

s1ructun- w11h three donners on c;ich side of the g,1bk \Vindows an,double-hungnnsJe light ~he.TI~gmund lloor L~ 

approximately nine feet below the grade of the railroad lme, with tunber cribbing retuning the a<lr,10:n1 bank. 

Significance: llulh JS~ comb11liltion mess hall and bunk house fnrsm!\le men working at Kenne."Ott, the structure was the 

61$I dormitory oon~truc1ed m the mill town and is a good example ol the ,ucll11.:c1u_ral style typical or Kennecotl Thr 

building is arrhitc.'CtUr,111)' and hi~torically significant for it• a5~ociation with the muungoperalions tn Kennecott. 

lilstorical Value: \h.'dium 

Archltec1Utt\l Value: High 

Overall Value: ttiB,h 

CULTURAL L,.NO SC AP£ REPORT KENNEC O TT M ILL TOWN 84 
ANALYSIS A,~o E\IALU~TION 

SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

Store,md Warehouse (figure40) 

Building ~umber: 20 

Date ofCOll)l£lll.lion: J917 

Square Feet: 13,185 

I 01· I L 

Ownership; Public 

Description: Ont> and-a hall story, T-shaptil, wou<l commerci.il building with gabled store fac,1Je and recessed entrance 

with bracketed verge overhang:., exposed eH'. rafter ends. ,md double-hung and fixed sash. Catwalks extend to the warehou~ entrances on each side w111g ofI.he n:ar warehouse :,tructure. Gable roof porches areat each emrv obo,·e a full-height 

basement containing addition,11 storage rooms. A ri:ce,ving area, complete w1lh a convevor, is located on the west half of 

the structure. 

Significance: Prmoidingservii:es to the communit)' ofKenneco11. the warehouse supplied parts ,rnd fi>.tures for the industrial lOmpltx as wdl as gl.'neral merchandilic to the resiJems. The building is architecturally significant fur its association 

with tht! mining operations in l\ennecott. and for i1~ histoncal association \\·ith the lifewar of the Kenne<oll community. 

Historical \'alue: High 

Architectural Value High 

Overall Value: High 

PA RT I 8 5 
S IGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

ScJ,oollwuse (figure 41) 

Building Number 23 

Datto! Construdion, Ca 1915-1938 

Square fe.,1; 1,200 

Lot 10 

Owne1$hip· Publk 

Description: The schoolhou.eisa l\'Ctnngular, \\ood frame, g;ible roofed structu~r. tooued on the westside ofthe main 

road into !he mill town. Four-over•fouranJ 1wo-over-nvo,double•hung windows are on the nor1h .tnd south foe.ides. A 

central louvmd cupola is located on the ridgcoi' thegdblc, which is flanked by two :rnmll d1i111ncy,.Gmunds surrounding 

!hestructure were used for5portinga.:tivitics and rec=t,on. 

Signilicnncc: For many years, !he schoolhti= sern?tl as a center ofevcrydil)' ilctivit) for th<: (amities of Kcnn<'COIL As 

n1any as 20 children an ended dail>· chm~. Tiie ,tructurt ako sen-ed .is !he comrn1unil)' chun:h. This building,~significant ror Its hist11rical =ociation with the lifeways of thr Kennt'Cott community. 

Historical Value: High 

Architectural Value: Medium 

Overall Value: High 

86 CULTUIIAL LANDSCAPE REPORT KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
A N A L , S I S A t. O E V A L U A T I O t 

S IGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

Statio11 House (Depot) (figure 42} 

Building Number: .H 

Date ofConsLnKIion: Ca 191 O- l 912 

Square Feet:J36 

Lot:60 

Ol\-nership: Public 

F1g11rtll Tnt sta111Jrrlwus.e, or dtpot, asCDtl.5tru•udbtnn:cn 1910-1912 

(NPS photoftlr W'RST 19911 ) 

De criplion. Sited next 10 the rail bed, the station house is a small, one-story wood frame structure on post anJ sill 

foundation. The entrance vesubule has a shed roof and the windows are four-over-four, double-hung. A wood decking 

wraps around the north, west, and i;outh sides of the building. 

ignificance: The station house was the point of contact for goods ..lnd people coming to and from Kenne<0ll, and is 

significant for its historical association with the mining operations in Kennecott 

Historicvalue; ~h:daum 

ArchitecturaJ VaJue: Medium 

Overall VaJue: Medium 

PA RT I 87 
SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 

Machine ~wp ([rgurf 43} 

Building Number~ 

Da" of Con5t1111:tion· 1916 

Square Peet: 5,550 

Lot:91 

Owncrslup: Pubhc 

l'lptr l3 11... nmtb.o t.,:ht ~ llunr .,.,,p.rc'-11"1<:tJ rn l~fo 

O,'l'SfliOllJf,1, l\lliST. IM I 

Dcscript ion;The machine shop is locuted on th~ wnl ~id,: of the m,un road, north of the lc,1d1ing pL1n1 aml soui]l of the 

power plant. Re.:tangular in plan, I.he wood Iramc ~tructure has six front baY5 ofsix-nwNi~.double-hungwh. The front 

elt.-vntion fai:tSeastand is parallel lo th, main mad. The roofis g.ibledin thmsection~:aluminum to the50uth,andceoter 

and rru-pap{'t on the north ~-tion. Lar~e double duors are ~t in the south, e;15t, and north ,ides of the structure. An 

o,nhead hoist enters the building alxwc a door on the south end of the 5tructure.The graJ,· t,,11) ~W,I)' to the \\'C:SI. with 

storage for mad1iner,, tools, finmgs, 1111d !Jf'<'l'S~loml und1'r the budding. 

Significance: The mnchineshop IS architecturally and h1storu:ally si1tnitic.1nl for 111 association with the nuning operdtionsofKcnnecon. 

lilstorical Value Mt'dium 

Architectural Value: V~r)' high 

Ovemtl Value: Ilij;h 

CULTUR4L L~NDS C APE REP O RT KEN'•E CO TT M IL L TONN 88 
ANloL'l'SIS ANO EVALUj\flON 

SIGNIFICANT B UILDINGS 

R~Jngm1t1,r p/,,nt (Meat Coo/a) (figu,~ 44) 

Buililing!iumbcr: I~ 

Oak ofConstrucuon. Cl. 1915-1931! 

Square r-eet: ns 

l.111· 11 

Ownmlup, l'uhlk 

 ~ ' i i 7 ru . ". - - P. 

· I @ ~ ..-+ q(I ~i .. 

f\...,,,41 l'i,• ...,,.,,JJo ti,, ttfr,gm,rorfWnt"' mwrt>>lrr /~'P\J'i.,,d 

fik.111151. l!m/ 

Description: The refriger.itnr plant ,s ~it,-.! l>ctw<~n ll1e bunkhn=and the store and w,,rchou;< on the west side of the 

mnm rond. Timbcrcribbmg fl!lollns the rJilr,>»d right ur'"'Y• which is approximatd)· ~vcn f.'l.!t uh.we the level grade or the 

~trurturr. Re.:tangular in shapt, this Slt\Kturc is huih around a 1:uge ",1Jk-in refriger,uor -\n ext,;rmr meal hoistattnJs 

around the tront allow a platform and mto th~ huildinj! al,o\-e the m.iin COIT), Four-<t\c'f•lour, double-hung windows 

provide light into the fl!frigttatnr ,omp,1r111wnt. 

Sigoilicanct" Ihe refng;,rator pL1m is anchik.:turnlly and hislonc.tlly signifin1111 for 11> a.<sod.ition with the mining op• 

crauons ofl\enn!.'1:ott. 

Historical Value: \l,.Jium 

Arc.hitcctural Value: MteJ,um 

O•crall Vitluc· ~kdium 

PA RT I 89 
ftvtr4; 1.,,,."""""" o, ch,"""'~••.,, Wl'Spho•ofll,. WR.IT, 199-\J 

Oil Storagi,Tanks ( 4o-c) 

Di=I Water T3nk ( Id) 

W,un Tank (4c) 

Bunkhouse (7) 

Warehouse t11) 

Cott.1ges (lla-0 

llospital (H) 

l\ennecon Glacier Lodge (17) 

Toilings Hoisl ttouse (21) 

llandball Court (22) 

Conag,(24) 

Chicken Coops (3 la-bl 

Oil llouse, (38) 

Powder House (41) 

l·use House (42) 

OTHER B UILDINGS, STRUCTURES. AND RUINS 

(PUBLIC AND P RIVATE) 

Tailings Hoi~1 house (44) 

Toiling., cribbing (-Ci) 

Shc.'d (S)) 

Hoist Hous.- (55) 

C;iblc S1oragc(57) 

Hoist House (58) 

CapStorJS'1 (59) 

\'alve Hou5t (60) 

Spray Pond (61) 

Shed (63) 

Conage(65) 

Shed (66) 

Wood Storage Shelter (68) 

CoFTVeyor Shed (76) 

SUMMARY 

Within the J<cnnc.:t111 mnl town, a relali,·cly large numb~r n(signlfic.ml struc 

Lures remains from the hL~IMic perioJ and contnlm1es 10 the historic ,lisinct. 

\\'hilt the physical condition of these fe,Jtures varies. there remaios a h ,gh de. 

grtt of W'Chitectural and his1orical signifiaince 3S50ciated wilh seven.ii intl,­

vidual struc'l\lres.Thehighest ronccntration oflustoric stn1ctures is in thr nrlginal industrilll builJing complex. Ofthese corr srructuM in public owner~hip, 

11 hav-clugh architectural and histnrk111 sigrufi.:JJ1cc.1 In addition to thes-es1n1c• 

lures. =er.iis«ondary5truclurt:S (such d• 1Mboist hoUS<, \'ilflOU5 5h¢ds, lhe 

(USt house. cribbing, COO\'l!)'tlr \h<'d, anJ s1or~ge tanks) collectiv-dy haw his· 

torical signifannce becaus~ thC)' con1ribu1e 10 the structural complex 

holistic.ill)•,defining the dusmnod opc:ration of the mill. 

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT KE"INECOTT M ILL TOWN 90 
/\NJ\l.YCtC J\Nll t.::VA LUAT I ON 

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES 

Located throughout the Kennecott site today are a large number of industrial 

artifacts.Amongthese are remnant cable,pipe,shieves,pulleys.grinding wheels, 

various types of mining equipment and machinery, structural ruins, and isolated features (dumps and storage piles from the concentration mill and community). Many of the features have significance for their association with historic activities at Kennecott {1900-1938). Some features from later periods 

support the industrial character of the site, but they are not managed as 

cultural resources. 

An inventory ofarcheological features within the mill town was conducted in 

1997 by Michigan Technological University (MIU). For the purposes of the 

inventory, the mill town was divided into 16 sections, generally following lot 

lines, roads, and natural features (figure 46). Archeological resources and structures within these 16 sections were identified and mapped. (For detailed building descriptions.see the section titled,A11a/ysisand Eva/uario11: Srructures.) In 

addition, all archeological features were described and asummary assessment 

of the potential significance was completed. Important in this assessment was 

an evaluation of both individual features and the historical and physical 

context within which they exist. 

This information was compiled and used to develop a rating systemconsisting 

offive categories (see thefollowing table). These categories were used to assess 

the significanceand integrity of archeological resources. 

P ART I 91 
0 300 

Scale: Feet 

• 

0 

00 0 1) 

14 ~ .. O O Cl 

15 

13 

12 

Figur, 46. Krnnecott mUI town showing 16 

artheologi<alsun'q divisions, orsections. 

Table l. Categories ofSignificance for Archeological Resources 

Category and 

Rating Number Description 

Features associated with the operation of Kennecott 

during the historic period (1900- 1938) that remain in 

historical physical context 

2 Features associated with the operation of Kennecott 

during the historic period (1900-1938) that are not in 

historical/physical context 

3 Structural ruins that remain in their original location 

4 Features from multiple periods requiring additional 

investigation 

5 Features that post-date the period ofsignificance and are 

noncontributing 

92 CU LT URA L LANDSCAPE REPORT : K E NN E COTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYS I S ANO EVALUATION 

Features with a rating of I are the most significant and are a high priority for 

preservation and conservation. Features with a rating of 2, 3, and 4 are also 

significant (or potentiallysignificant),but may requireadditional research prior 

to determining appropriate treatment and interpretation. In all cases,artifacts 

and features in categories 1-3 are contributing resources in the context of the 

cultural landscape. Features designated in category 5are not managed as cultural resources and may be removed from the site as required for safety, access, 

or other management needs. 

For each of the 16 inventory sections within the mill town, archeological resources are documented in three ways.A narrative description provides asummary of available historical information and existing conditions. Then achart 

summarizes the feature and lists the priority ranking for preservation. Listed 

features may include multiple artifacts, aggregates of features, or be isolates. 

Each feature is labeled and keyed to a location map. 

SUMMARY 

A total of 113 archeological features were documented and evaluated in the 

inventory of archeological resources in the mill town. Of these, less than 

17 percent had a rating of5, leaving 94 individual artifacts and features (aggregate) that are historically significant and contribute to the cultural landscape. 

The following section provides adescription and feature assessment for each of 

the 16 inventory sections in Kennecott. Within the description and feature 

assessment for a given section, each archeolog.ical feature is assigned a letter 

(a,b,c,etc.) and is referred to in the text by that letter. 

PA RT I 93 
• •• •• 

83 

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77 

 

SECTION 1 

Figure47. Map o/Stction 1, Ke1111ecott mill town 

50 100 150 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

2'L Property Boundaries/Numbers 13a-f Cottages 

CJ 

= 

Buildings 39- Cottages 

-

= 

4c OilTank Boarclwalks 68 Wood Storage Roads and Trails 

Utilidor.s 

Oil Stained Soll a Includes boilers, pipes, firebricks, Dumps drums, sheet metal, flues. Recent 

Vegetation domestic trash overtop firebrick 

dose to oil tank includes 

enamelware. 

CU LTU RAL LANDSCA PE REPORT: KENN ECOTT M ILL TOWN 

0 

94 
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

INVENTORY 

Section 1 (figure 47) 

Table 2: FeatureAssessment of Section I 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Dump, including power plant debitage-boilers,pipes,firebricks, sheet metal, and flues 

Probably formed from a large dumping event afterthe 1924 power plant fire. Domestic 

trash around storage tank 4c overlies firebrick dumps. This is likely the result oflaterdumping 

events, probably after the Greater Kennecott Land Company sold the cottages in the 1970s. 

Description: During the Kennecott era, staff housing dominated this section. 

Between 1915- 1916, the company constructed ten freestanding cottages 

(13 a fond 39 a c) in rows on either side of the roil grade. 

The five cottages in theeast row are set back from the rail grade and are currently obscured by vegetation (post-I938). Vegetation also obscures an access 

road to the rear of the cottages and evidence of Kennecott-era vegetable gardens. An extant boardwalk west of the cottages continues to define pedestrian 

circulation. A utilidor-conveying water, steam, and sewer pipes to the cottages-runs west ofthe boardwalk (figure48). Firehouses are located south of 

structures 13a and 13d. 

The westrow offour cottages fronts the railgrade (figure49). Constructed on a 

hillside, these cottages include lined basements. Historically,catwalksextended 

from the rai.lgrade level to privies west of the cottages. Two privies from this 

system are currently extant. The rail grade separating the rows ofcottages continued north as a wagon road to the Erie Mine, with aspur leading around the 

eastern extent ofthe mill town. Both roads are extant,although the route to Erie 

Mine eventually narrows to awalking trail. 

An extensive discard area (a) lies down the terrace scarp, southwest of the cottages (figure 50).This scatterextends south to the power plant. Materials assoPA RT t 95 
ciated with the first power plant (destroyed in 1924) are found at the bottom of 

the scarp, including firebricks from the furnaces and furnace stacks from the 

flues. Modern domestic artifacts are intermixed with industrial detritus in the 

vicinity ofthe oil storage tank (4c). 

Except for the loss of the fifth cottage on the west side during the 1924 power 

plant fire, a boardwalk between the west row ofcottages and the powerhouse, 

and growth of vegetation in the eastern portion of the section,there have been 

few alterations to the Kennecott-era landscape. Awood storage structure (68), 

between the oil storage tank and west cottage row, is a recent but low-impact 

addition to the area.All cottages are currently held in private ownership; fourof 

them (13c, 13d, 13f,and 39c) have been restored. 

96 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOT T MILL TOWN 
ANAL(51S AND Ev.-.LuATION 

F1g11rt 19 Restorr,l nag rauage( IJJ) mmh of 

,hr!'O"''t1 fl,int (.I,PS photojilr. ,~·iisrfigurr 48 Boardw.1/4 mfront ") swJJc111t~'t mmh <J.1ptiwtrplu11t .i,,Jt.ut ofr.ulgm.Jr (,'v~ r1t,,1,, FigurtS() Dutttp .,.tSt ofP""''fflwu.r< .mJ 

jik. h'R.\l ) sra.ffrom1ges Oil tll1Tks 4bandk 111 tmtla 

scarp. F11Jt f'(lll'<T plant mn,uru at l~r, ,mddle 

Jut,mrt (Mn'jidJ d.xummri1oon. 1997.) 

PA RT I 97 
SECTION 2 

FigureSl .Mapo/S«tio112, Ke,mt,ottmill town 

0 50 100 150 200 

-•; Feet 

LEGEND 

,.,L_ Property Boundaries/Numbers 4d Water and Diesel Storage a Tram cable spools 

CJ Buildin9G 12 Warehouse b Woodon epool 

-

= 

- Artifacts 37 Transformer House C Site of teMiS court 

Roads and Trails 54a Steel Rack 

utllldors 55 Hoist 

Cribbing 56 Privy 

Wood Scatter 

Vegetation 

Tamngs 

98 CULTURAL LAND SCAP E REPO RT : K E NN E COTT M I LLTOWN 
C 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUAT ION 

Section 2 (figure 51) 

Table 3: FeatureAssessment ofSection 2 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Cablespools. Cables are of locked coil type, employed in the aerial tramway system.Their 

present location (just outside of the storage facility) is in keeping with thearea's general use 

from 1906-1938. 

b Wooden spool. Its position close to the hoist suggests it may be a left over from cable 

replacement. 

Site of tennis court. As the tennis court was cantilevered over the hillside and the wood later 3 

removed (probably by Ray Trotochau or Consolidated Wrangell). there is little surface 

evidence ofits existence other than a few pieces of timber. Archeological investigation may 

reveal postholes and court dimensions. 

Description: The clustering of structures in the west part ofthis section indicates historic use and circulation centered alongside the rail grade. The majority ofstructures served storage functions.The largest building (12)stored steel, 

perhaps for working in the machine shop, and sacks for bagging ores. Constructed in I910,this warehouse is presently in adilapidated state.Three spools 

ofsteel cable (a) employed in the aerial tramway system lie directly outside the 

warehouse and are in keeping with the area's general use. North of the warehouse, a wood-rack structure (54a) stored steel, line shafts, and machineshop 

items for the concentrator and mines. A tank (4d) upslope of the steel rack 

supplied water to the power plant. 

Other structures in this section contributed to the daily running of the mill 

town. Atransformer house (37) distributed electricity for Kennecott's operations. Power lines from the transformer building ran to the Erie Mine, Bonanza 

Mine, the concentration mill, and the greater mill town. Telephone lines also 

connected to this building and led to the Jumbo Mine and mill town. No power 

or telephone poles remain standing, but concrete bases indicate original line 

routes. A hoist house (55) facilitated the movement of machinery between the 

concentrator and mines. This building, of which a concrete pad and winch 

PA RT I 99 
remain, powered a drawbridge that raised and lowered the tracks of a service 

tram line between the concentrator and machine shop (also seeSection Sb,o). 

The area between the rail grade structures and concentrator loop road served 

multiple functions. The company dumped tailings on the hillside east of the 

warehouse. These tailings may actually relate to Wrangell Consolidated workings in the 1960s,although the proximity of a workers' privy (56) suggests management considered the hillside asuitable refuse area. A short boardwalk from 

the three-hole privy may indicate a designated route south to the concentrator 

building or east to the loop road. Numerous pipes and utilidors run through 

this area,ofwhich awood-encased utilidor connecting between the concentrator and power plant is avisible and particularly well preserved example. Afew 

scattered planks just west of the loop road in the northeast part of the section 

(c) compose the sole remains of the mill town's tennis court. 

100 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E REPORT : KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYSIS -'ND Eva.LUATION 

fixurr 5!. 1,,.,.IJOTtltftv,n 11•m '"'"'""'o,n,,..,. 11. fl,,.,., pl,mr/9) ,.,. /,/1. ,mJstiI/J ""'"•'",n 1111JJ1, dht••rr (,VPSphotofr!r. ll'R.\'T.) 

10 1 
l 

SECTION 3 

.j 

D 

0 

---

F,gu,e53.Map ofSt<tion 3. Kenntroll milltown 0 20 40 60 80 100 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

Oil Tank 

D Buildings 9 Power Planl J 

...L Property Boundaries/Numbers 4b I Venl pipe and oil filters 

Firebrick scatter 

38 Oil House k Includes boilers, pipes, Ruins firebricks, drums, sheet 

-

CCI) Decking metal, flues. Recent 

r:rn:n Boarct.Yalks domestic trash ovor top 

Mifacls a Ceramic block wall firebrick close to oil tank. 

b Stacl<ed melal ftues 

-

Roads and Trails Includes drums, cable, pipe, = C Walerwheel Utllidors cans, firebrick, ceramic block. d Furnace latches and braces roofing. Flumes Ore sacks D m Remnants of deck between Dumps f Wooden lrig power planl and machine shop. 

• 

m 

Wood Scatter Woodfram ~ OIi Spiii h Boiler tubes 

g 

102 CULT URA L LANDSCAPE R EP ORT : KENNECOTT MI LL TOW N 
C 

ANALYSIS ANO EVALUATION 

Section 3 (figure 53) 

Table 4: Feature Assessment ofSection 3 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Ceramic block wall. May have been stacked after power plant fire, although its location in 5 

the space ofan oil storage tank suggests it dates after Kennecott's operation. 

b Stacked metal flues. Neat stacking suggests Kennecott salvaged materials after the power 

plant fire in 1924. 

Waterwheel. Given its proximity to band d, this was likely dumped during Kennecott's 

operation 

d Furnace latches and braces. As with b, their neat stacking suggests they were salvaged from I 

the old power plant. 

e Sacking, likely relating to the stub tram which brought"sand" up from the glacial moraine 

forvarious uses in the mill town and mines. ~cation ofthe sacks next to the trig f(the 

upper terminal of the stub tram) suggests they reside in primary context. 

f Wooden trig, making up the upper terminal ofthestub tram that brought up sand from the 3 

glacial moraine to supplement various operations at Kennecott. 

g Wood frame. Probably housed the hoist for the stub tram winch, although it has evidently 2 

moved down the slope from its location from historic fire insurance maps. 

h Boiler tubes.Perhaps displaced from original context, but possibly associated with 1924 fire, 2 

or from machine shop discard. 

Vent pipe and oil filter. These were part of the power plant system, but heavily damaged 2 

during asbestos removal procedures in 1995. 

Firebrick scatter, perhaps from old power plant. The looseness of the scatter, however, 5 

suggests it formed in more recent times, from either salvaging activities or perhaps during 

asbestos removal. 

k Dump (see Section l,a). 4 

Dump. Includes drums, cable, pipe, cans, firebrick, ceramic block, roofing.Similar to k, the 4 

formation of this dump likely post-dates the l924 power plant fire. Presence ofbroken 

concrete suggests floor removal (probably from old power plant). Else, this dump may be a 

continuation of machine shop discard. 

m Remnants ofdeck once connecting between the power plant and machine shop. Considerable 3 

wood scatter, although most of decking was probably removed in the Trotochau period. 

PART I 103 
Description: The power plant is sited on a terrace between the rail grade and 

glacial moraine.A road from the rail grade accesses the north and west sides of 

the building.This road also facilitates pedestrian access to mill town structures 

located farther south. Alight scatter of tail.ings covers the surface of the road 

and rail grade.An oil house (38) and oil storage tank (4b) are positioned at the 

western edge of the terrace. 

Immediately south of the oil house are stacks of furnace latches, braces, metal 

plate, and ceramic blocks (a, b, d). These artifacts derive from the powerhouse, 

perhaps salvaged by the company after the 1924 power plant fire (figure 54). 

The remnants of a boardwalk lie between the power plant and oil house. A 

second boardwalk, farther south connected the power plant with the machine 

shop dump (figure 55).Extensive dumps (k, I) west ofthe terrace scarp contain 

predominantly industrial and construction-related materials (barrels,concrete, 

and firebricks), although domestic artifacts are also present. 

Kennecott did not use the slope between the terrace and glacial moraine solely 

for waste disposal Asmall wood crib (g) probably housed the hoist for a stub 

tram that brought sand from the glacial moraine to the power plant. (The sand 

likely found use for construction and blacksmithing activities at the concentrator and mines).This structure has moved approximately 80 feet down the slope 

from its original location.A wooden trig post (0 at the top of the terrace functioned as the upper terminus for the tram. 

Remnants of a deck (m) connecting to the machine shop lie south of the powerhouse. Flumes crossing underneath the decking directed wastewater from the 

power plant to an outflow by the machine shop. Autilidor beneath one of the 

flumes conveyed water and steam between the power plant and leaching plant. 

An oil intake platform (i) and two other decks are the only features east of the 

power plant (figure 56). The oil intake platform suffered heavy damage during 

1995 asbestos removal procedures. The two decks likely served as temporary 

storage for machinery loaded off the railroad. 

104 C U LTU R AL LANDSCAP E REPORT: KENN E CO T T MIL L TOWN 
AN~L SIS ANO EVALUATION 

F,gllll 54,Powerpwm /urura, rn,l11dmgfurtll1(r l.i1,ht:JonJ /traus (b.:tl.gnnmJJ. ,t.u.WJ1irir,s Figure ~5. ~'icw north al 1"',1nhl.ilk-connt:e1 

u.sbtst11S mn,mllm 1995. l'irlt' '""'-'11£ sou/Jr (M1Vfidd Jowmm1ar1011. 19'}7,) 11,gbtr-cmJ'Ol'aphml (r,ghl} 10 madri11r 

shop Jump. 1rig p0$1 (1111dJlt left) 11111,keJ the' 

uppUnmnus ofa rtub lwm l•"lrtgmg sanJ 

upfrom thtg(i.Uial 11WraL•i.:. (MTUfidd 

Jonirrtmtalwn, 1997.J 

F,surt56 Ila,siJtoflhtpnwtrpla11t (9Jlool.111g '"",mitht oiltan>J Wld plaiforms. (NPS p}wm 

jilt, WRS1} 

PA RT I 105 
SECTION 4 

0 

-

36 

,<, ' ., 

----L.__ 91 ----1:=_ Reserve _1 

Figure 57. Map of Stt1ion 4, Ktnnecoll mil/ 1own 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

J,L Shop h Includes pump, filling Property Boondaries/Numbers 36 Machine 

D 

-

chutes, wheels (latge Buildings 54b Steel Rack 

castings), wood ventilation 

CD 0.Cklng cupolas. 

COD Boardwalks Scrap melal dump. Includes 

= 

ArtWacts pipe, coil, stove parts, latches, 

........ Roads and Trails a Grinder wheels, cogs, tools, compressor, 

Tram-lines b Battery storage unit bed frame. Most artifacts are 

utilidors C Tailings scraper broken. North section of dump 

Flumes d Machine base on wood is capped with concrete and 

-,,. Cribbing foundation surfaced with tailings. 

Wl wire, 



Wood Scatter e Engine Includes drums, cable, 

f Remnants of deck between drill bits, belt wheels, buckets, Dumps 

f2;I power plant and machine shop rope, sacks, tin sheet, food Vegetation 

g Includes shieves, grinding cans. Conslderable number 

wheels of wood shingles. 

106 CULT U RAL LAN D SCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT M I LL TO WN 
C 

ANALYSIS ANO EVALUATION 

Section 4 (figure 57) 

Table 5: Feature Assessment ofSection 4 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Grinder found under decking material. Probably extensions of machine shop storage. 

b Battery storage unit found under decking material. Indicates this area may have been used 

as ageneric storage area for avariety ofequipment 

Scraper. Although removed from its functional context (employed either in the landscaping 

of tailings or scraping of talus slopes at the Bonanza and Glacier mines), this scraper may 

have been repaired by the machine shop. 

d Machine base on wood foundation. Not in direct context with machine shop activities. 2 

e Engine. Close proximity to machine shop suggests it may have been stored there for future 

use (perhaps scrap metal). 

f Remnants ofdeck (5ee Section 3, m). 3 

g Collection of machinery pieces,including shieves and grinding wheels. As with b, c, and d, 

these artifacts do not associate directly with the machine shop, but may have been repaired/ 

waiting for repair. These items were likely employed in the concentrator, and were probably 

removed to this location by the concentrator tramline. 

b Dump, includes pump, filling chutes, wheels (large castings), wood ventilation cupolas. 4 

Probable extension of machine shop storage area. Cupolas, however, appear to be dumped 

from re-roofing, perhaps in recent times. 

Scrap metal dump. Includes pipe,coil, stove parts, latches, wheels, cogs, tools, compressor, 

and bed frame. Most artifacts are broken and are in the context of a machine shop dump. 

Northern section of dump, which included an ash pile is capped with concrete and surfaced 

with tailings. This was undertaken in the 1990s. 

Dump. Includes drums, cable, wire, drill bits, belt wheels, buckets, rope, sacks, tin sheet, food 4 

cans. Considerable number of wood shingles. Range ofartifacts suggests no segregated 

dumping. but it may also be the result of(and perhaps created during) disturbance in recent 

times, such as during asbestos removal procedures in 1995. 

PART I 107 
Description: The machine shop fronts the rail grade on thesame terrace as the 

ammonia leaching plant and southern part of the power plant. Aboardwalk 

leading from the southwest side of the power plant accesses the north, west, 

and south sides of the machine shop. The design of the machine shop, with 

practically the whole building on raised wood pilings, kept the working floor 

level with the rail grade. The crib wall supporting the westside ofthe rail grade 

extends south to the rail bridge (50). Space created beneath the machine shop 

found suitable use for parts storage. Ahoist at the southern end of the shop 

moved stored equipment to the level of the shop floor (figure 58). Simi.tar to 

areas beneath the shop, a discard area (h) immediately west of the building 

includes machinery parts likely associated with shop activities. However,some 

materials.such as wood ventilation cupolas, were likely diicarded during a roof 

restoration effort. 

A wood scatter (f) north of the machine shop (figure 59) resulted from the 

collapse ofa connectingdeck between the machine shop and power plant.Arti• 

facts amongst the wood scatter include a grinder (a) and battery storage unit 

(b},which may be acontinuation of shop storage.An extant section ofthe con• 

necting deck abuts the west side of a wood-framed steel rack (54b).This deck 

also traveled west and joined with the boardwalk leading from the southwest 

side of the power plant. Extending west, this deck served as a platform for the 

dumping of machine shop refuse. 

Dumps down the terrace scarp (i, j), which contain broken tools, machinery, 

and scrap metal,dosely correlate with machine shop activities.A flume close to 

the west wall ofthe machine shop directed wastewater from the Pelton wheel in 

the powerhouse into this area (figure 60}. Arecently poured concrete cap over 

the northern half of this dump mitigates ahazardous ash pile. 

Large deckseastand south ofthe machine shop facilitated !hestorage and trans• 

fer ofsupplies from the railway, concentrator tramline, and narrow gauge line 

from the general store (19). Machinery parts either side of the east deck, 

include a tailing scraper (c),machine base (d},and shieves (g). These appear to 

have been dumped out ofconvenience, but they may still relate to Kennecott• 

era use areas. 

108 CULTU R AL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECO T T MILL TOWN 
SECTION 5A 

Figure61. Map o/St.ction Sa. Kennr.u,tt millto,m 0 20 40 60 80 100 

Scale: Feet 

.!!L 

-

LEGEND 

Property Boundaries/Numbers 2 Tram Tenninus Wood box, possibly for screening

Cl Cable Storage b Fire House Buildings 57 

•

C Large machine parts 58 HoistHouse Ruins Storage Shed d Cable. rail, hook$, shieve,s, tram rail 

- 63 CD Decking 64 Wrangell Consolidated e Roof gable, tram line parts, rail 

Boardwalk$ Workings amongst extun.sivts wood :sc:&Ut::t,

-= 

Mifacts f Screen 

Roads and Trails 9 Pulley Tram-lines h Scoop 

Utilidoni 

- Screen inside timber aib, conveyor, 

Pipes and two shaker/crusher machines. 

Cables Electric motor located to north. 

Cribbing 

I U f Terraces 

Wood Scatte< 

Tailings 

Vegeladon 

1 10 CU LT URAL L AN D SCA PE REPOR T : KENNECOT T M I LL TOW N 
c 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUAT I ON 

Section Sa (figure 61} 

Table 6: Feature Assessment of SectionSa 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Wood box, perhaps for screeni'ng/prospecting ore. Location suggests it was dumped and not 2 

important to later operations at the mill town. 

b Fire house (formerly holding 100 feet of hose) on utilidor line between concentrator and 

power plan.I. Significantas a fire protection measure instaUed in the mill town. 

Large machinery parts on decking area. Position outside concentrator indicates this was 

one of the areas in which new, redundant, and broken machinery was temporarily stored 

from the tramline. 

d Assorted artifacts: cable, rails, hooks, shieves, and tram rail from collapse of Jumbo aerial 4 

tramway. Kennecott-era materials, although this section of the tramway may have been 

removed duiring the Trotochau, Consolidated Wrangell period in order to access the ore 

chute (64). 

e Discard area, including roofgable, tramline parts, and tram rail amongst extensive wood 2 

scatter. Tram parts relate to Bonanza line. General destruction ofthis area likely attributable 

to efforts of Ray Trotochau. 

f Screen. Probably Kennecott-era, but probably dumped from upper tram-deck after close of 2 

operations_ 

g Pulley (see f) 2 

h Scoop (see f) 2 

Consolidated Wrangell machinery, including screen inside timber crib, conveyor, and two 5 

shaker/crusher machines. Electric motor to the north. All date to the movement ofWrangell 

crushing operations to the mill town area in 1957. 

Description: The concentrator tram terminus (2) extends west from the top of 

ahill scarp above the rail grade. Decks around the concentrator, as well as their 

contents, are for the most part well preserved (see cand d,and figure 62). Together with the track incline system connecting the tram terminus with the 

crushing unit of the concentration mill and machine shop, these features illustrate the system by which concentrator machinery was installed, repaired, and 

temporarily stored. 

PART I 1 1 1 
Not all features around the concentrator are well preserved. A deck once 

extending east from the Bonanza Mine terminus has entirely collapsed. The 

hoist house (58) and storage shed (57) north of the tram terminus have also 

collapsed.Coiled metal sheets and rolls ofcable stacked on the floor of the storage shed attest to the building's function.The hoist house (possibly once ablacksmith shop constructed in 1907-1908) operated the incline tram between the 

concentrator and machine shop. 

Utilidors run along both sides of the concentrator. Afirehouse (b) is located 

north ofthe building alonga utilidor connecting with the power plant. Cribbing 

in the vicinity indicates ameasure to stabiliu the once devegetated hillside. 

Alight scatter oftailings covers the ground surface north and south ofthe concentration mill. These tailings were deposited before construction of the 

ammonia leaching plant and constitute some ofthe earliest tailingsat Kennecott. 

Much of the debris on the north and south sides of the concentrator derives 

from fallen wood siding off the upper levels of the tram terminus. Artifacts 

among the debris relate to the aerial tram system (d,e) and general concentrator operations (f,g). 

During the 1960s,Consolidated Wrangell operated a concentration mill southeast of the tram terminus (figure 63). Remains ofWrangell workings include an 

ore chute, storage basin, conveyor, crushing machinery, and a storage shed 

(63, 64). Tailings from Wrangell operations were directed west of the crushing 

machinery. This eventually covered areas formerly occupied by the manager's 

residence and staffoffice building (removed 5-10years prior),two sites having 

potential archeological value. 

112 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E REPORT: KENN E COT T M I L LTOWN 
ANALYSIS ANO EVALU,.TION 

Fcg11rc6Z, Tru,n CtTm111us (l)for the fumbo ,\finr! lliTi::l trwm.~ tNPS photofik. IVRST.} 

F,gur,· o.3 Wr.i,tEtll u,,wliJIJJAI op«alums (14) I'it"1, nl'!rth615tfrom 111,lings /(1-,.,md sh11Jd11g,md 

mdiillg 11ia<h111tn Ashtd(6J)o11u ~J1111J th, man,1~•rsho~,,ur111910, is111 miJdlt rig/11 

(MTIJfic/J d«11111t11tanon. 199,J 

P>.RT I 1 13 
SECTION 5B 

3 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

.!!L Properfy Bour<laMs/Numbers 1 General Manage(s Offlca 

D Buildings 3 Concentration Mill 

- Ruins 

CD Decking 

cm:,, Boardwalks 

-= 

• Artifacts j Fire House 

Roads and TraJls k Flower planters 

o-. Tram-lines I Piping, screen, ',NO()(fen box, canvas 

belt, sheet molal, tar paper. Utilldors m Sheet metal becked by sand bags Pipes n Crusher Cables o Tram dra••Mdge Cribbing p Conveyor 

q urge machinery. C<ane rails above deck. 

b'·il Wood Scattet 

[:!Bl Tailings

E3J Vegetation 

Figurt 64. Map ofStcti-On 5~ KtnntaJII mill town 

114 CULT U RA L LANDS CAP E REPOR T : KENN ECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYSIS AND E:VALUATION 

Section Sb (figure 64) 

Table 7: Feature Assessment ofSectionSb 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

Fire house (formerly holding 100 feet ofhose). Significantas a fire protection measure 

installed in the mill town. 

k Narrow wooden troughs, perhaps employed as Oower planters. (If so, these would meet 

significance as a "beautification"measure in the mill town area.) 

Artifact scatter on decking, including piping,screen,wooden box, canvas belt, sheet metal, 4 

tar paper. May indicate use of tramline to move up supplies to the Hancock addition of the 

concentrator.Some material on the deck probably dumped in salvage activities around and 

after the time of Kennecott's closure. 

m Sheet metal backed by sandbags, used to retain loose rock on hillside. Indicates one use for 1 

sand likely acquired from the "sand pi~' at the glacial moraine (seeSection 3). 

n Ball mill, painted green. Largely out ofcontext with Kennecott milling and repair facilities. 5 

Likely relates to the Consolidated Wrangell period. 

o Tram drawbridge. Part of the tramline system that moved machinery from the upper tram 

deck, concentrator, and machine shop. Significant as an indicator of the importance of 

machinery repair and installation to the general running of the miU town and mines. 

p Remains of aconveyor, possibly dumping high-grade ore into storage bins. Kennecott-era 

associated with concentrator and structure 76. 

q Large machinery on decking. Position outside concentrator indicates this was one of the 

areas new, redundant, and broken machinery was temporarily stored from the tramline. 

Decking includes aframe superstructure that supported rails for acrane, significant as a 

method employed to transfer heavy machinery to and from the concentrator building. 

Description: The concentration mill occupies the hillside between the tram 

terminus and the rail grade. Similar to the tram terminus, areas around the 

concentrator were used to move ore, waste, and machinery. Aconveyor shed 

(76) transferred high-grade ore to a storage bin beside the railroad. Tailings 

north and south oftheconcentrator were deposited prior to the ammonia leaching facility. Decks on the north and south sides (I,q) still hold machinery and 

parts. Near the rail grade, a drawbridge (o) aided by a hoist (see Section 2, 

PART I 115 
Building 55) raised and lowered tram tracks over the rail grade for the movement of machinery (figure 65).A tramline on the south side of the concentrator 

likely aided the installation ofjigs and other machinery into the concentrator's 

1922"Hancock" addition. 

Vibrations from concentrator machinery necessitated the attachment of guy 

ropes on the north and south sides of the structure. Alternatively, these may 

have been attached in 1912 when the instability offoundations forced temporaryclosure ofthe concentrator.Beneath the west side ofthe concentrator, three 

generations of foundation cribbing document its gradual expansion between 

1911-1938 (figure 66). 

Although the rail grade provided general access to theconcentration mill,boardwalks indicate pedestrian circulation traversed the hillside. A boardwalk between the manager's office (1) and the concentrator is the only substantial 

survival ofaonce well-defined pedestrian circulation in the NationalCreek area 

(figure 67). 

After Kennecott's closure,this area sustained minor damages. Fallen siding contributes primarily to wood scatters around the concentrator. The manager's 

office sustained damage from the piling of Consolidated Wrangell tailings on 

its eastern side. An ore crusher (n) close to the south tramline likely dates to 

Wrangell Consolidated operations,well after the closure of Kennecott. 

116 CULTURAL LAN DSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MIL L TOWN 
A ALVSiS ANO EVALUATION 

F,gw,• 6:S. [1rQl>lmdgt of stmt:t tr.Jin ~'trntram lilmlTUJJ (2} ,mJ1111 hintshttp (1⁄4} (MTU}itlJ 

d,i.:11trtl'IU•lll0fl, ,w- J 

PA RT 1 

~ .·-·-!i[ILIU I I _ I .

,~. ~- ~ .- ff°" ~-&.-J, 

-I -

Figurt66 \\hr 111.iJl •"'f.:or:..tnJniri.111 mill(J) 

dio1ung thrttgtrirratro,uuffau11Jat,cn ml,. 

bu,g_f,\ITl' fidJ documnuation.1997J 

F,gurr 6;.Jf.ltlitgvr'.i ojfictbu1/Juig \~ta• 

tlDrl bttwtv1 tMbui!Jmga,,J tht mm1 tmni• 

,rw (upptT lt11J ommtJlljrn Kmn.xott's 

dosurr. (NPS photoJilr, lfRSTI 

I 17 
SECTION 6 

61 60 CJ 

Reserve 

-} ., "!I r 

a 

15 

k 

Figure 6& Map ofSe<tion 6, Ktnnecott mill town 

0 50 100 150 F..,t 

-

LEGEND 

j ·Sorting funnel 

_,.l_ l'rcpel1yBoundaries/Numbers 15 Ammonia Leac:hing Plant k Sled 

D 21 Tailngs Hoist House I Wood scatter around

-

Bullcllngs oonfluenee of pipes. Rollers, Ruins gears scrHns, drums. [D Decking Deck brackets, and line shafts a suppo<ting tram traclts

=-

Artifeets also proaont, b on.m drop, occupying site or 

..-. Roads and Trails m Truck transmission limeslled

Tram-lines Crudely made pelton wheel C Includes drums, cable, wire, n 

-

-

Utitidors dr'II bits, belt wheels, bucltets, 0 5cre<ln, painted green 

p Pulley wheel Pipes rope, sacks, tin sheet, food cans. 

q Ore sacks Flumes Considerable number of wood r DNm Cribbing shingles. 

Orum Floor dump • i<>l•ts and decking Natlooalcreek d 

pm On.m crusher Wood Scatter •

Wood-frame pialform D f Dumps g TaMings scraper

ID Tailings h Sample ..parat0<

0 Vegetation I Wood frame 

118 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: KENNECOTT MI LL TOWN 
ANALYSIS AND EVALUAT ION 

Section 6(figure 68) 

Table 8: Feature Assessment of Section 6 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Deck supporting tram tracks, mostly collapsed. The tram tracks were part of the system of 3 

machinery transfer between the machine shop, concentrator, and upper concentrator 

terminal. 

b Drum dump occupying site of a lime storage shed. Not in keeping with area's historic use 5 

and likely created by the asbestos removal team in the mid-1990s. 

C Dump (see Section 4,j). 4 

d Drum dump, probably formed at the same time as Section 4,j. 5 

e Crusher. Old machinery perhaps used early in concentrator's development. It may have been 2 

dumped from the concentrator prior to construction of the flotation plant addition to the 

leaching plant (circa 1923).Significant as an earlier piece of machinery used at Kennecott. 

f Wood-frame platform, serving as part of the tailings scrapersystem. Significant as a method 3 

used by Kennecott to reclaim,store,and landscape concentrator tailings. 

g Scraper used in landscaping tailings. Lies in context,and associated with the winch 

house (21 ), and wood crib (0. 

h Sample separator for use in assaying. Possibly discarded prior to construction of flotation 2 

plant in 1923. 

Wood frame. Makeshift noncontributing structure not associated with Kennecott-era mill 5 

town activities. Undoubtedly created after the road to the leaching plant was pushed through 

in 1995 to back-fill tailings into the leaching plant. 

Hopper with grizzly. Perhaps used in the back filling of tailings into the leaching plant in 4 

1995.Jts location suggests it was not employed by either Kennecott or Consolidated Wrangell 

operations. 

k Sled, probably associated with Kennecott-era. Although too small for freighting, the sled may 2 

indicate an informal recreational use of the area during winter. 

Wood scatter around the confluence of waste disposal pipes. Artifacts, including rollers,gears, 4 / 5 

screens, drums, brackets, and line shafts, may have been dumped during asbestos removal. 

m Trucktransmission beside National Creek. Unknown context, but likely of minimal 5 

significance. 

n Crudely made Pelton wheel, dating to either the Kennecott or Consolidated Wrangell era. 4 

Significant as an alternative power source for concentration operations. 

PA RT I 119 
0 Green-painted ore screen. Location suggests it was dumped from the rail grade. The mach­ 5 

nery is probably associated with Consolidated Wrangell operations (appears same vintage as 

ball mill in Section Sb, n) although it was likely dumped after the closure of their operations. 

p PuDey wheel. Probably Kennec.ott-era,but devoid ofassociative context. 2 

q Sacks at base ofleaching plant feed trestle.The sacks lie in close proximity to the ore 2/ 5 

sacking room of the flotation plant, but the rail grade area was unlikely used for empty 

sack storage. 

r Drum, minimal significance. 5 

s Floor joists and decking, either the footprint ofan extension to the leaching plant (seen in 3 

the I935 fire insurance plan) orelse decking constructed to facilitate the back-filling of the 

leaching plant with tailings in 1995. Closer examination should indicate whether it is indeed 

a foundation and whether it has potentialarcheological significance. 

Description: The ammonia leaching plant (IS) is sited below the rail grade on 

the same terrace as the machine shop.Areas on the north, south,and west sides 

of the plant were primarily used for refuse disposal. Decking on the north side 

of the plant (a) supported an extension to the concentrator and machine shop 

tramline. The extensive dump created (c) includes broken machinery (probably from the machine shop), wood shingles, and drums. 

Tailings around the plant primarily derive from the concentration mill and were 

likely deposited prior to construction of the flotation plant. A tailings launder, 

at least in place by 1917,directed mill tailings (including fines that the leaching 

process could not treat) toward the glacial moraine. Finely stratified tailings are 

exposed beneath a conveyor shed at the southern end of the plant The conveyor shed distributed leaching plant tailings across National Creek and aided 

the creation ofconstruction space in the southern mill town (seeSection 11 ).A 

hoist house (21),crib (f),and scraper (g) on the west side of the leaching plant 

indicate additional methods used by Kennecott to disperse leached tailings 

(figure 69). 

Flumes and pipes south and west of the leaching plant directed both tailings 

and wastewater toward National Creek. Acluster of flumes (I) extended from 

the southwest corner of the leaching plant (figure 70). The southern part of the 

leaching plant sustained significant damage during the flooding of National 

120 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOT T MILLTOWN 
ANA lY 15 AN O E II A L UAT IOtl 

Cn.·d; i11 1980 and 1983. In addiuan ro damaging flume ~y,.1c111~ we&t or th~ 

bridge, tloods depo~11ed taillnf> previously foiling the rail hridg~ ~-rih ag.ain,t 

1heru1crn wall ofthecon~rshtd. 

Most arufaL"tS Jruund the lea,hing plant la.:kdire<.1 associalivecontat withthe 

leaching proc~ or w11h 1heJbpvs.tl uf roilings and wasttwatl'T. Some machio 

cry (su~h as the crush~r) may b,ive be<n discarded prior to construcnoo ofthe 

leachmg foc11i1y. ~~,-~nnl'('(>tl disturt>anres we,i ofthe leaching plant indude 

abulldt•td Ir.IC~ and umakeshift wooden frame (i},pmiapssupporting a1em 

fr.une. TI" asbestos removal team formed a rood in 1995 filr the purpo~ of 

dcpo,iting ttilin~ onto theleachmg plant floor. Madun&y IJkdydumped .1flcr 

l<cnn«oll operations indudes abopper (j),conve)'llr (o),l!Uck1ran,mt<Sion(111), 

and crudely fushioned waU!rwhecl (n). 

F't"f' .(I ."-I.I~r£ml(IS~ lc,ol1111 "'"/MUI. Flomt1•..i,,,.,,_,,•.utcrn:,v,alr,r 

ii,,q:,,,,..,J . I,Im,fol,tJl!<Vlllffi/al..,,_ l!HiJ 

FQ;J«O>I.5mp<T ut.d., l....tnp<11z wl 

mg,. k,.n,·J•ntll{ltA<ltr,rz/'l,urt /15), 

1,lfTl' fi,JJ d"4-UMmliltion. 1997.) 

121 
D 

Reserve 

Reserve 

7 ·1-=-=·=·· ,. ... ,.. ,. ,. ,. .,. ,. ,. ... ,. ,. .. ... ,. ,. .. ... ,. ,. ,. ,. 

60 

5 

,. ,. .. ,. ... ... ,. ... ... ,. ,. ,. ,. 

,. ,. ,. ,. ... ... 

. . 

... ... . . . ... . . . 

SECTION 7 

Figure 71. Map o/S«rion 7, Kenn,a,rcmill 1ow11 

0 50 100 150 Feet 

LEGEND 

~ 

-

Property Boundario$/Number$ 5 Bunkhouse 0 Conveyor 

D Buildings 7 Bunkhouse b Sorte, 

ID 8 Assay Shed C Screens Decking 

-

= 

- 14 Hospttal d Electric motor Artifacts 34 Railway Depot e Sled Roads and Trails 50 Rail Bridge I Sorting funnel 

UUlldo<s g Sile of warehouse 

r,,,, 

National Creel< h Flre house 

WoodScatte< 

E:::l Vegetation 

122 C ULTURA L LANDS C APE REP O R T : KE N N ECOT T MIL L TOWN 
ANALYSIS /\N D EVALUATION 

Section 7 (figure 71) 

Table 9: Feature Assessment of Section 7 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Green-painted, screw-thread conveyor. Appears approximately same vintage as screen 5 

(Section 6,o) and ball mill (section Sb,n). Likely relates to Consolidated Wrangell or 

asbestos removal team. 

b Sorter. Likely disturbed context. 2 

c Screens. Likely disturbed context. 2 

d Electric motor. Possibly relates to Consolidated Wrangell or asbestos removal team. 5 

e Sled, similar to Section 6, k. 2 

f Hopper with grizzly.Out of context with location and probably relating to either Consoli­ 5 

dated Wrangell machinery or asbestos removal practices. 

g Warehouse site. Some foundations visible on the southwest corner, otherwise site is 3 

damaged by leveling and growth of vegetation. 

h Fire house (formerly holding 500 feet of hose). Significant as a fire protection measure 

installed in the mill townand one of only two extant in the National Creek area. 

Description: This area contains five extant buildings clustered around National 

Creek. A rail bridge (50) and avehicle road currently access the west portion of 

this area (figure 72). This area provided accommodations for workers (5, 7), 

medical services (14),storage(g), transportationand administration (34),and 

metallurgical testing (8). 

The flooding of National Creekin 1980and 1983 damaged the integrity ofmuch 

of this area. Floods brought large volumes ofsilt and gravel into the ground 

floor levels of the hospital, assay shed, and both bunkhouses, weakening the 

structures. Tailings held in the rail bridge crib were re-deposited against the 

leaching plant (see Section 6). The narrowgauge lineon thewest side ofthe rail 

bridge was entirely removed and flume systems on both sides ofthe bridgewere 

damaged. In addition to the deposition ofgravels over much of theground surface, water action exposed some areas to bedrock. As a consequence, smallscale features have either been removed or buried.Boardwalks and decking, for 

PA RT I 123 
example, are al roost entirely absent ( with exception of a small area abutting the 

west side of thehospital). Floods·likely removed a storage shed that had been 

located south ofthe 1908 bunkhouse (5) (figure 73). Afirehouse (h) abutting 

the west side of this bunkhouse is still extant, but at least two others were once 

in the area (between the two bunkhouses and north of the assay shed). 

Indications offormer infrastructurehave not entirelybeen destroyed. Foundation (g) between the rail grade and road demarcate the southwest edge of a 

warehouse-built in 1916.Woodpiles to the north of the assay shed are possible 

demolition materials fromthemanager's house, staffhouse, or guest house. On 

the hillside south of National Creek,a vehicle road, overgrown and washed out 

in places,runs between the National Creek dam (33) and general store (19). 

The current vehicle road east of the Rail Bridge, provided vehicle access to the 

concentrator during emergency stabilizationprocedures in 1991. Historically, 

this road connected to the warehouse and did not continue beyond. Machinery 

on both sides of the access road includes a conveyor (a), screens (c), and an 

electric motor (d). These likely relate to Wrangell Consolidated operations. 

124 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: KENNECOTT M I LL TOWN 
ANAL.YSIS ANO EVALUATION 

F1guu 73. Vit11 east 14•idr 1908 bunJ.lu,usc(5) 

infougroumland 1910ln,nlJioUH {n in 

background. 11r~ road u on dtt. ngl:t ,sbuiJJ 

ongra1-rlbrought in during tM 19800111J 

1983 Narwnol C~kflo«ls. (NPS photoJilt, 

WRST.) 

Figu1t' il \h ,fwut/1 mill tm,nftum tram tmmmu (2) RJI,/ /,r1,fgr(SO)a11d depot (34) ut 

fotrt.r,,und. Slcrrt {19) iJttdWcst bunHr'1tig PU) 111 bacJ.-grounJ. (MTUfalJ J«um,·ntation. 1997.) 

PART I 125 
SECTION 8 

Reserve 

59 

Cl 

62 

Figurr 74. Map ofStt:tion 8, Kenn«ottmill town 

0 50 100 150 Feet ->: ~ 

LEGENO 

..!!l_ Property Boundaries/Numbers 33 Natiaial Creek Dam 

g Crib Dam 62 Storage Shed 

Ruins -

~ Boardwalks 

Artifacts 

= - Roads and Trails 

b 

a Stephen Birch's house site 

Uti Wood clothesline lidors 

Pipes C Pipes, metal headboard

d Fence posts (painted green), sledge hammer Flume 

e Sluice grate Cable

- National Creek 

Dumps 

e:;::J Vegetation 

126 C UL TU RAL LA NDSC AP E R EPORT : KE NN EC O TT MI L.L. TO WN . 
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

Section 8 (figure 74) 

Table 10: Feature Assessment ofSection 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Stephen Birch's house site. Demolished by Ray Trotochau in the 1950sand now largely over- 3 

grown. No surface evidence of house site other than water pipes. In spite of poor surface 

preservation, site may retain high archeological integrity. 

b Wooden rotary clothesline partially.buried. Resembles form of clothesline shown in historic 

photos between staff house and manager's house. Probably constructed circa 1911-1917 

when staffand managerial accommodations were constructed in the National Creek area. 

Significant as a rare survivor ofdomestic activities carried out in the mill town. 

C Small scatter of pipes, including a metal headboard, possible demolition materials from 2 

Stephen Birch's residence dumped by Ray Trotochau. 

d Fence posts (painted green) and sledge hammer. The fence posts are all that remains ofa 3 

fenced garden or lawn extending west from Birch's residence. Indicates spatial segregation 

in the mill town. 

e Footbridge over National Creek. Partially dilapidated condition. Important as a functional 

and aesthetic component to the National Creek area. 

f Sluice grate, removed from dam flume (its likely original position). 2 

Description:.Thearea at the eastern edge of the mill town served a number of 

important functions. Roads to the concentrator, general store, and staff residences on Silk Stocking Loop connected above the dam and also joined with a 

pedestrian route from the administration area. 

In spite of major breaches in 1980 and 1983, the National Creek Dam (33) retains ahigh level ofstructural integrity (figure 75). Cribbing, facing boards and 

aspillway are extant. 

Other structures in the area are not well preserved. Astorage shed northeast of 

the dam (62) has collapsed entirely.Afootbridge (e) across National Creek, west 

of the crib dam, is in need of repair and boardwalks on both sides of the footbridge are poorly preserved (figures 76 and 77). 

PA RT I 127 
The site ot Stephen lli1'h's residmce (a) r?lllin, litti~ integrity. The house was 

demolished in tlie 1950saml flooding in the 19gos furth1•rdamagcd ,ts arclieo 

logical inlfSrity. 

Even with the gt'm:ral lo~ ol contt11. arufam rda1' to lhu ar.-:1\ ,cs,Jcntlal 

function. A partially buriro mtary dotheshne (b) ntar the Birth houst s,re ts 

similarin sryle w one.uns1ru,1cd bctwten !he staffhouse and manager\ ll':>t· 

dena. A couplt' of fence posts (d) ~long the :-/atiortal Creek h3nk pmhably 

dcmartated a g;inlm/lawn arQund th<' residence. Asmall discurJ pil~ w~t of 

the guest house (c) includes a metal beadl>oard. 

Roads to the concmlr.llor 3nd Silk Stocking Loup rttn.ltn in use. Romb leading 

west towar.i the rall grade.including the n,,1d 10 tilt generul stolt! (19) and the 

I960s road follow1ng a prior boardwnlk rout~. art' o,..,rgmwn and exposed to 

bedrock in places. 

CUL1"URAL LANOsc.-PE R EPORT KE:Nr<ECO,T Mtl..L TOWN 128 
AN"L Y S I S "NO EVALUATION 

Figllrt 77. /μi•J..mg -r,ntfrmn}Mtbr1fgtai'tf 

,\'atio,wlCrtli.. CD1trol mill101<·n buniJioUS45 

(5.7)nmbcsm1111 thtbackgro,mJ.. \'li'£1a, 

rum hil! gri1,.71 sine,· Kitmerotti dosure 

(\ITUfirlJ J, 11m1111ation. /997.J 

P A RT I 129 
56 CJ 

SECTION 9 

ReseNe 

50 

13 

D 

D 

11 

Reserve 

Figure 78. Map of Stttion 9, Kentteam mill town 

0 50 100 150 Feet 

LEGEND 

-

Property Boundaries/Numbors 45 Tailingc: Crib 

Tailings Dam 50 Rail Bridge 

Decking 52 Laundry (1938) 

-

-

-

Artifacts 

::=:=: Roads and Trails 

utilidors a Wood and rail scatter Including 

Cribbing collapsed flume and numerous pipes 

National C.-eek b Laundry sink 

Eilll Wood Scatter c Wooden bench 

II:il Dumps d Can dump. Includes Spam, ham tins, 

G Vegetation Pabst Blue Ribbon cans, AVO milk 

D Tailings cans, two bed headboards. 

130 CULTURAL L ANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MI L LTO WN 
1 

C 

ANALYSIS ANO EVALUAT I ON 

Section 9 (figure 78) 

Table 11: Feature Assessment ofSection 9 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Remnants of a waste disposal system and narrow gauge tram between warehouse and power 

plant. Comprises flume, numerous pipes, wood and rail scatter. Integrity severely damaged 

by the flooding of National Creek in 1980 and 1983. 

b Wash sink, in associative context with remains of the laundry building. 

Wooden bench, associated with laundry building. 

d Can dump. Includes spam containers, ham tins, Pabst Blue Ribbon cans, AYO milk cans, and 4 

two bed headboards. Includes coffee and tobacco tins and ceramics in west portion. Items 

likely date to the period of Kennecott's operation, although the dump may have formed later. 

Description: The area west of the rail bridge (SO) and south ofNational Creek 

found use during the Kennecott era for tailings storage and waste disposal 

(figure 79). Approximately 300 feet west of the rail grade, a wooden crib (45) 

held tailings for future reprocessingand land reclamation in the mill town (particularly in the area south of National Creek). Flumes and pipes directed wastewater between the rail bridge and tailings crib. Asewer pipe from central mill 

town structures, including the hospital (14) and bunkhouses (5, 7), discharged 

west of the tailings crib. 

Flooding of National Creek in 1980and 1983damaged the north section of the 

crib and carried offasubstantial portion ofthe stored tailings (figure 80). Floods 

additionally undermined and removed numerous waste water pipes. Pipe and 

flume sections are found west ofthe railbridge (a),on the west face of the crib 

dam, and approximately 50 feet northeast of the dam. The orientation of 

several pipe sections undoubtedly differs from original positions. 

Aterrace southeast of the tailings dam extended along the southern extent of 

the mill town and provided space for the construction ofmill facilities (seeSections 10-13).Remains of a company laundry(built by 1925) occupy the northwest corner of the terrace (figure81 ). This one-story, wood frame structure has 

entirely collapsed (apparently destroyed as apotential hazard in the late 1970s), 

PART I 131 
although not all structural information has been lost.A large section ofan end 

gable lies amid the scatter of wood siding. Building foundations, particularly 

on the north and west sides, are also discernible. Water pipes, wood benches, 

and a set of washing tubs (a) among.<t the wood scatter verify the building's 

function. 

Abulldozed road connecting with the McCarthy walking uail to the south delineates the western edge of the terrace and leads partly down the slope toward 

the tailing dam. The current configuration of the road deviates from an earlier· 

route east ofthe laundry that connected to the administration area (Section 7). 

Ray Trotochau or Consolidated Wrangell may have formed the northern extension of the current road to the tailings in the 1950s or 1960s. The road was 

further extended during asbestos removal operations and in 1994-1995 by 

America North in order to put in adrill hole. 

132 CULTURAL LANDSCAP E R E PORT : KENN E COTT MILLTOWN 
ANALY!'illi AND EIIALUAJION 

i:wu,, i'J Illllb"f t...ml, r11,.,..,,wu ~w•lh,"'""'"'"'"'"li' mb d••• fl.SI 11,., ~"" """"' 

r,,I/Jr•••lil'1b""'!I'dm"I(llfrlwu11,,,11U.1«i looJ.. (NI'S rJrou, fJe WRSTJ 

/lw•tr ell1llB/,.,,..i/ll,i,,& , ••, ~1.., 

nanhtJut r.VJ>Srht11D[tk. ll'R.l'tl 

PAIIT I 

Rgun II /-<"'k,,,/.,.,,!t,..1111••,nJ laue.Jr, 

"'""'"" •~""""pea(mun) .md nvhvD("f!) 11::rdt,,..,..(/9/•pi-,"' 

•PP<"k/t (MW lid./don,ffll1tUUian. /097) 

133 
13 

0 

56 

Reserve 

11 

SECTION 10 

--

Figure 82. Map ofStccion JO,Kennerott mill town 

0 20 60 80 100 

-

LEGEND 

!!l- Property Boundaries/Numbers 19 Store and Warehouse a Wotkbench 

CJ Buildings 44 Hoist House b Electric moto, 

51 

[D 

-

R.uins Paint Shop C Edger 

Oecidng d Carriage 

e Flywheel a:z:o 

-

BoardWalks 

f Flywheel Artifacts Small bedframe 

-

,=, Roads 9 and Traits h Otis machine Utilidors i Wood frame 

Cribbing j Concentration or rails 

~ Wood Scatter k Wood scatter from root of warehouse 

i;:;:J Dumps I Terminus of narrow 93uge railway 

Oil Stained Soil . 

[I] Tailings 

0 Vegetation

13 4 CULTURA L LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MIL L T OWN 
c 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

Section 10(figure 82) 

Table 12: Feature Assessment ofSection 10 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Workbench, in associative context with carpentry building. 

b Electric motor, power source for some carpentry equipment. 

Edger machine,same context as workbench (a). 

d . Machine carriage.same context as workbench (a). 

e Flywheel, same context as workbench (a). 

f Flywheel,same context as workbench (a). 

g Small bed frame, probably from Kennecott era. Probably discarded by Trotochau during his 2 

partial demolition of the warehouse building. Indicates presence of children in the mill town. 

h Otis machine, still in crate. In good context next to the store and warehouse building. 

Wood frame, possibly for holding steel or wood. Kennecott-era. 

Concentration of rails discarded from rail grade in either the Trotochau, Consolidated 2 

Wrangell period.or by the Alaska Road Commission in the 1940s. 

k Wood scatter from roof ofwarehouse, created by Ray Trotochau during building demolition. 4 

Warehouse terminus of narrow gauge railway to power plant. One ofthe only easily visible 3 

remnants of transportation system within the mill town. 

Description: The mill town contained two structures important to its operation: the warehouse and the carpentry building. The warehouse (19) not only 

stored machinery and parts, but also included a general store and post office. 

North of the warehouse, the carpentry building supplied sawn lumber and furnishings for the mill town and mines. Constructed on a terrace 6-8 feet below 

the level ofthe rail grade, the buildings were accessed by boardwalks and steps. 

Awood crib supporting the west wall of the rail grade continues south for the 

entire extent ofthe mill town.A utilidor from the power plant follows the line of 

a crib wall.To maintain a level surface, the south part of the terrace was built up 

with tailings. Ahoist house (44) is located northwest ofthe warehouse (figure 83). 

PART I 135 
Areas surrounding the warehouse retain a high degree of integrity with the 

Kennecon era. Decks outside second-story entrances to the warehouse once 

extended to the rail grade and enabled the efficient movement ofbulk supplies 

into the warehouse. The southern catwalk doubly served as the terminus for a 

36-inch-wide service track between the store and power plaint. Asmall shed 

partially anached to thewarehouse may also havebeen associated with the narrow gauge line. Arobust wood frame (i) beneath the southern catwalk served 

as an outsidestorage rack for the warehouse.A machinestill in .its packing crate 

(h) lies outside aside entrance to the warehouse and retains associative context 

with the storage facility. 

The carpentry building north of the warehouse has almost entirely collapsed 

(figure84). Of the few wall sections remaining.all lack stability.Some standing 

walls may belong to the paint shop (51) orto a later extension ofthe carpentry. 

Artifacts in the wood scaner include aworkbench (a), an edging machine (c), 

and flywheels (e and 0,and clearly relate to ;,,ork activities in the shop. 

Post-Kennecon disturbances in this area include a rail scaner Gl northeast of 

the carpentry. The rail dump may date to the Consolidated Wrangell or Ray 

Trotochau period or to the Alaska Road Commission when converting the rail 

grade between Chitina and McCarthy into avehicle road. 

136 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENN ECOT T MILLTOWN 
ANALYSIS ANO EVALUATION 

Frgurt SJ. Dct.t=Jofhoist houJt {4-1J, toolmg nortlr Conaruration milltn bat-kground. (MTVfttU 

donm:t.nta!ian, I997) 

F,ga,,r St htwsau:h u,,..,,d$Wlrmrd,mrtlrllll~(l9) Rtm4inJ ofnupcn:,,sJwp (6) mforrr;roun:l 

llot.sthoua(4.,)qtf'(arurrfgl-.1 ~•:ground (MTVfalJd«urntntat,on, 199i.) 

PART I 137 
12 

Reserve 

SECTION 11 

Figure 85.Map o/ Settio,r I I, Ktnntt:Otl mill/own 

0 20 40 60

---=

Sca

=

Ie: Feet 

==--

LEGEND 

.Ji),__ Property Boundaries/Numbers 20 Wost BunkhouGo 

D Buildings 23 Schoolhouse 

CD Decking 48 Refrigeration Plant 

= Boardwalks 

• Al1ifacts "'""'- Roads and Trails 

a Stove parts - Utilid<>rs b Conveyor - Cribbing c Remnants of handball court f~i'.d Wood Scatter

D Tailings 

138 CULTURA L LAN DS C AP E R E P ORT: KEN NECO T T MI L L TOWN 
ANALYS I S AND EVALUAT I ON 

Section 11 (figure 85) 

Table 13: Feature Assessment ofSection 11 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Stove parts, probably salvaged from the west bunkhouse building. 2 

b Conveyor. Brought in by the asbestos removal team in I995 as a method to back-fill the S 

leaching plant floor with tailings (the machine, however, was never used for these purposes) 

c Remnants of handball court,consisting of a few scatters of wood. Possible archeological 3 

integrity. The site is significant as a recreation facility provided by Kennecott for workers. 

Description: The refrigeration plant (48), bunkhouse (20), and schoolhouse 

(23) are located west of the rail grade on a tailings terrace formed around 

1917-1919. Roads demarcate the north, west, and east boundaries ofthe section. The access road on the north side, present during the Kennecott era, connects the rail grade to the building terrace and enables pedestrian and vehicularaccess around the buildings.A road west ofthe structuresconnects with the 

walking trail (wagon road) to McCarthy. This replaces an earlier road destroyed 

in the slippage of tailings during the 1964 earthquake (see Section 12). The 

present route is closer to the structures.but follows the edge ofthe terrace scarp 

in keeping with the historic route. 

The surrounding area is largely devoid of artifacts and small-scale features. 

Utilidors, conveying water, steam, and sewage lines parallel the retaining wall 

and connect between the bunkhouse and schoolhouse.A smaller utilidor,probably conveying water and steam lines, connects the bunkhouse and refrigeration plant (figure 86). Awooden platform and chute on the north side of the 

refrigeration plant aided the deliveryof meatcarcasses to the building from the 

rail grade (figure 87). 

Asmall area ofwood planking andjoists(c) between the bunkhouse and schoolhouse constitute the remnants of the handball court (figure 88). Ascatter of 

stove parts (a) immediately outside the bunkhouse was likely deposited after 

Kennecott operations. The location ofan ore conveyor (b) west of the handball 

PA RT I 139 
court (brought in but not adopt<'<I in 1995 as a means 10 hack-ml Lht leaching 

pl,1111 tluor with t:ailing.s) is ,111omalous 10 Jesi!!"all'tl (<JUip,ocm drcas .luring 

the -4,n,entrawr's operation. 

The gt'llcrnl paudtyof anlfam andsmnll-scale fl>atures in thisn1en i, 011ribu1-

ablt10 theatt.'a's historic use r,11her rhan post li'tnnecott damag~ ~p.ices around 

the bunkhouse, l"frtl:\'-'nu ,on plant. and schoo\howc w,re not usw h~tnncally 

for the open-air stcm1gc of milling equipmcnt. lwnbtr,and suppli,:,, 

CULTURAL L._NDSC.APE. REPORT KENNECOTT MIL.L.TOWN 
AN A LV I, A~lD I.VALUATION 

FtJtUttll ''l"" vu,~·itl)!.ttfrJ#t&trUtJI ,,,,,.,,, (-IS) ~,tli WDI A'n1/1111ut (2(JJ ,,, l•iJ~4>:,t.M1,rJ. (l'il'l 

plr,,..jw IV/1.'i'T I 

NA,utlM '-"-it1, . •tllNR r...i ..·,ml tltt sdt~"'°'~t1J) tDtl1~.ind ft''ko!IIDt Iht11J,/11;tB ,oufl 

a:o t,,_, ui umt:r 1,/t /SP:, pltou,fil~ W/1.SlJ 

P A R T I 141 
0 

SECTION 12 

D 

10 

 

7 0 

Reserve 

Figurt 89. Map of Stttion l2, Ken,1@tt mill town 

50 100 150 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

~ P,_rtyBoundaries/Numbers 24 Cottage c Modem can tfump. Mos-I tins 

D Buildings 67 Guide Office opened with can opener. 

Diamond pattern Coca Cola cans, • Mifacts 

= rubber boot, ceramics. Roads and Trails a Can dump. Includes Spam, ham tins, d Loose discard scatter, mixed with ~ Dumps Pabst Blue Ribbon cans, AVO milk modem materials. Bedding wire, G:]ll Tailings cans, two bed headboards. West pipe, cans, canvas belt, bucket 

c;:;:s VE9etation portion includes coffee, tobacco tins e Large domestic dump. Includes 

and ceramics. ceramics, glass, food cans, d,ums. 

b Scraper Non-domestic artifacts include 

flywheel, screens, rubs. 

142 CU L TURAL LAN DSC A P E REP O RT: K E N NEC OTT MI L L TO WN 
C 

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 

Section 12 (figure 89) 

Table 14: Feature Assessment of Section 12 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Dump (see Section 9,d). 4 

b Scraperemployed in the landscaping of tailings. Associated with hoist house (44). Pit 

around scraper, however, not necessarily from Kennecott operations, but may indicate 

reuse of tailings for resurfacing areas of the mill town and McCarthy. 

Modern can dump. Most tins opened with can opener. Diamond pattern Coca Cola cans, s 

rubber boot, ceramics. 

d Loose discard scatter, including bedding wire, pipe, cans, canvas belt, bucket. Modern 4 

materials are also mixed in. 

e Large domestic dump. Includes ceramics, glass, food cans, and drums. Nondomestic arti­ I 

facts include Oywheel, screens, aod tubs.Dump partially damaged by landslide after 1964 

Alaska earthquake and by looting, but still contains high integrity as the primary discard 

area for domestic waste during the Kennecott era. 

Description:.Thegeneral absence of structural remains in this section reflects 

the area's historic use for recreation and storage. The company positioned a 

baseball field south of the schoolhouseand designated the area along the western edge of the rail grade for open-air storage of piping and lumber. 

Ofthe two buildings in this area, one cottage retains historical significance.The 

cottage (24) is located on the terrace west of the rail grade. Formerly a generator shed, it is currently used as a private residence.A small wood-framed building (67) on the rail grade level was built in 1994-1995 as a tour guide office. 

During Kennecott's operation, the western edge ofthe rail grade terrace included 

a fire station, framing platform.and areas for wood and pipe storage. While no 

remnants of these activities are extant, the area may retain some archeological 

integrity (potentially revealing decking foundations and pipeline to the fire station). Alarge dump (e) located at the bottom of the terrace scarp includes ceramics, glassware, and food ways (figure 90). In excess of 28,000 square feet, 

PART I 143 
this dump was the primary domestic refuse area during Kennecott's operation. 

In 1964, the Alaska earthquake caused the tailings bank to slip. Not only did 

this damage the main domestic dump, but the slide also removed an historic 

access route at the edge of the scarp. The current road travels asimilar route 

along the scarp eJge,but lies approximately 50 feet east of the original road. 

Activities since Kennecott's operation have left significant impacts on this area. 

Discard areas (cl in close proximity to the west bunkhouse (see Section 11) 

either formed after the concentrator's closure or have become mixed with modern refuse (d). The recent mining of tailings in this area is evidenced in a pit 

close to the west bunkhouse. Ascraper (b) in the vicinity of the pit is similar to 

others found around the mill town and likely associates with the hoist house 

west of the compmy store (see Section 10). Residents have adaptively reused a 

variety ofartifacts on the terrace as a means to cordon off private property. 

These artifacts, however, were undoubtedly taken from the general mill town 

area and have no provenience. The main domestic dump has also been the site 

oflooting. 

144 CULTURAL LA NDSCAPE REPORT: KENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALVS1<; ANO E\IAL.UATION 

F,gurt 90 ,\lain JomtstlC dump ~it">tcd from tailmlJ.'5 t~m1.c~ \ k"~· lookmg saulh. (.\ITT,Jzt'l,I d«umrntatwn, 1997.) 

P A RT I 145 
SECTION 13 

0 50 100 150 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

.!!L Property Boundaries/Numbers 18 f Loose discard mixed 

D 

-

Recreation Hall scatter. 

Buildings 25 Commercial Building with modem materials. Bedding 

DJ Decking 26 Cottage wire, pipe, cans, canvas belt, 

cx:ca, Boardwalks 27 Cottage bucket. 

-

Artifacts 28 Oai,yBam g Large domestic clump. lnclucles 

ceramics, glass, foocl cans, clrums. Roads ancl Trails Non-domestic artifacts inclucle 

mn 

utiliclors flywheel, screens, tubs. Wood Scatter a Bucket 

cart h lnclustrial dump, inclucling rail, pipe, Q Dumps b link belt, chain, machinery, saeens. 

EJ Tailings C Cemenl mixer 

cl Washer ~ Vagelation e Water heater 

18 19 17 

Figur, 91. Map ofS«tion 13, Kemretott mill town 

146 CU:..TURAL LANDS C A P E RE P ORT: KENNE C OTT M IL L T OW N 
7 

c 

' 

ANALYSIS ANO E VALUAT I ON 

Section 13 (figure 91) 

Table 15: Feature Assessment ofSection 13 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Bucket, minimal significance. 5 

b Cart. 5 

Cement mixer, orearly ball mill. 5 

d Washer, minimal significance. 5 

e Water heater, minimal significance. 5 

f Dump (see Section 12,d). 4 

g Large domestic dump (see Section 12, e). 

h [ndustrial dump, including rail, pipe, link belt, chain, machinery, screens. Follows west side 

of rail grade for afew hundred meters.This area holds high significance as one of Kennecott's 

primary machinery dumps, in use(according to fire insurance maps) by at least 1935. 

Description: This section includes five structures west side of the rail grade. In 

keeping with the use of southern mill town structures (generally mixed use 

and low density), the Kennecott Copper Corporation used these buildings for 

storage (25,27),accommodation (26), recreation (18),and food procurement (28). 

Wood debris accounts for most of the discard around the recreation hall. An 

extant staircase connects the recreation hall with the rail grade.A firehouse and 

utilidor (thelatter passing beneath the steps) are visible from the stairs.A new 

building (25), differing in construction style from all other mill town structures,occupies the former space of the coalbunker and is currently operated by 

acommercialbusiness. Kennecott used the space between the commercial buildingand the recreation hall foropen-air wood storage.Recent construction.however, has deposited debris and filled in this area (figure 92). Two wood frame 

buildings alongside the rail grade (26, 27) are extant The southern structure 

(presently vacant) was originally used for storage. The growth ofvegetation as 

well as awood scatter west ofthe cottage to the north (26) obscures evidence of 

aformer vegetable garden. 

PART I 147 
Adispersed dump, containing both modern and Kennecott-era materials, 

extends north ofthe dairy barn. Asecond and more concentrated refuse dump 

west of the rail grade at the southern extent of the mill town primarily contains 

industrial artifacts (such as link bells, screens, and machinery). This area is 

less disturbed by modern refuse and retains high archeological significance 

(figure 93). Isolated artifacts located in the scrub between the cottage (26) and 

the former wagon road includes aconcrete mixer,washer,and waterheater.These 

were, in all likelihood, used during Kennecott's operation. 

Numerous modifications occurred in this area after the closure of Kennecott. A 

modern road between the northern cottage and recent commercialfacility provides vehicle access from the rail grade to the former McCarthy wagon road. 

Recent landscaping around the dairy barn has destroyed its surrounding context (figure 94). Decking extending east from the dairy barn to the rail grade is 

no longer present. 

148 CU L TURAL LANDSCAP E R E PORT: K E NNECOTT MI L L TOWN 
ANALV IS A O EVALUATION 

Figure 91.1roJ.urg nortlrpom rhe (l(i >1agon ro11J tu,..~rJthr rrar,tticmhall (18). L,111d.<Cap1ng (/Prt· 

gruu11J) Jemtsfr11111 tlt(<ottStru(IIC"1 vf,i co111mnr111/J,11i111) 111 lhtx>uth mdl tu,rn ( /rlTUJi.iJ 

donm:mt11tm11, J!l'r.) 

P A RT I 

F,gure 93. lnJu,lrzaldurr~, loca1rJ.irsouth 

tnlmrto! Id thtmill to1t•;4 l'iews,mtheast "11l1 

r,:tlgr.:tk iJl /tjt (M nJftt/J Jtl(umcr,tuJicm. 

1997.) 

Figure 94 IA>, (mg 11c•r1l11.-rJt u,1111rdth~dn,ry 

barn (28) L,11ulscapi11g arourtdtnd,,m, is a 

r«tJIIdisn,,bun,:r. (,\lnJfidJ J«w.cluWDf1, 

l9Yi,1 

149 
. ... 

,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. h ,."',.A..,_,.A A A,. 

1-,~----,.-1:,.:..:•: ..:•:•:" ,. ,. ,. .. ,. ,,. ,.

:..:--:..:•:..:.... 

0  .o 

,. 

. .. ... ,. .... .. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ;,, .. ,_ ,._ .... A 

..

·=-=·.=·=+ .. ., 

= 

0 

0 

SECTION 14 

100 200 300 

LEGEND 

D 

~ Property Boundaries/Numbers 

Buildings

- Ruins 

atD Boardwalks 

= Roads and Trails 

Utilidors

G:J - Vegetatlon 

30&-c 

31 a-l> 

32a-d 

M 

72 

Figun, 95. Mapof S«tio11 14, Ktnnttott mill town 

Cottages 

Chicken Coops 

Cottages 

Collage (modem) 

Garage 

150 CULTU R A L L AN DS CAPE REPOR T : KENN E CO TT M IL L T OWN 
ANAL't'SIS Af O l!vALUAllON 

Section 14 (figure 95) 

D~cription: fhi<. area marks the southeast limits of I.be mill cown. ll was used 

forr~1dentJal purpo,cS.and between l'Jl6-1918 lhecompanycft'(ted lwodusters of freestanding cottages (30 a-c.32 a-d}. 

fhe souLhern dU!ilCr, built in 1916, include~ a row of three. freestanding wood 

frame cotta~s ( 10 a-c, figure 96). The cott.tge~ sit to thl east ofSilk Stocking 

Loop Two collJf'!leJ chicken coops (31 a-b) are locatt"d west ofthe cott.Jges on 

tht other side of the dirt ro.id. A utilidor carried water and sceam lines to a 

firt.:hou~e between the chicken coops. t:ci111y lmes were not conveyeJ into thewuagcs and privies were built ro the rear. 

In 1918. the company constructed a second duster ot four cottages (32 :1-J) 

300 fed north of the first group (figure 97}. Although of similar design and 

orJerliness to the southern dusll'r, the northern cottag~ were fined with water. 

~Learn.and st:wagc lines. Remnants of the utihdor between the west bunkhouse 

(20) ,md ,ott,1ge 32d are found down the hillside. It is likclr that the t1rehouse, 

water, and steam lines conveyt>d to the southern cluster oicottages occurred 

during the construction of the 1918 conagei. Pipes between the huil<lmg dusters tollow the west i.ide ot Silk Slocking I oop. Acollapsi:d garage (72) 

Pos1-Kennecon-era disturban,es to this area incluc.Jea residence locaw<l east of 

cottage 3:?a in the north duster. Oense v..:gdation between lht· cottage,;; and the 

m,11 town hasl.lrgcl) grown stnct Kennecotts abandonmem and limit-. the historic. vista frum the cottages. Vt'getation also obscures private gardens pfonte<l 

br s1atf families. The road hctween the north cottc1ges .ind s.torage Jam (33) 

narmws to a walking tratl Cle,ued areas west of each duster of couascs are 

used tor ,ehide parking. Informal trails lead from Lhe clearing down to the mill 

town .rnd ma} foOow histork mutes. One trJil parullels the utiliJor down the 

hillside.All cottagl'i, are currently 11\ private O"-ncrship and a number have found 

commercial uses (such as a hl-J and bre-.1kfas1 and the office ol a ,harter air 

sen ice). 

Sution 14: FCJ1ture Assessmet1t 

Private property-no assessment conducted 

P4R T I 

Ftgldl 96 South diwrr ofamagtJ Lruilt 111 

l916on SJHu,o.mg Lcicp ""'" ( I'Sphoro 

Jilt, lrRS"J J 

Fi~urt 97. North, lusrtr c,Jmrt,1gt1 (J.? t,.J) 

hu,/1111 IQJS crr1 ,>ilk StQiAing l o,.1p rv,11I 1'{PS 

F-":Ojik. l\'RST.J 

151 
SECTION 15 

Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

2'.1..- Proporty Boundaries/Numbers 29 <><I Cottag•• 3 Cmne 

46 Tool Shed b Scatter of pipe bends D Buildings 47 Bath House C Orum slack (modem)

-Ruins 66 Generator Shed d Privy Ar1Kacts

-

= Roads and Trails 

Dumps 

t::J VegetaUon 

~ 

58 

11 10 9 

D 

Figun, 98. Map ofs«rion I5, K'11ne,orr millrown 0 50 100 150 

152 CULTU RA L LANDSCAPE REPORT : KENNECOTT MILLTOWN 
ANA L YS I S AND EVALUAT I ON 

Section JS (figure 98) 

Table 16: FeatureAssessment ofSection 15 

Significance 

Feature Assessment Rating 

a Alaska Department ofWorks crane, probably brought in by the 1950s to 1970s,and may 5 

have been used to demolish mill town buildings. 

b Scatterof pipe bends. In context with area being used as a tool shed and oil warehouse. I 

c Drum stack, occupying space formerly used for open lumber storage. Drums are modem 5 

and comprise a noncontributing element to the Kennecott Landscape 

d Privy, likely moved with one of the staff cottages during renovations to the Kennicott Glacier 2 

Lodge in the mid 1980s. 

Description: This section of the mill town predominantly served storage and 

transportation functions. Structures positioned dose to the rail grade included 

a tool shed (46), oil storage building, and open-air lumber storage. Although 

the tool shed remains intact, asmall wood scatter and leveled ground testify to 

the presence ofthe one-story oil warehouse to the south. Artifacts in the vicinity, including pipe bends, relate to the tool shed. Extant decking south of the oil 

storage building contains gears, sections of pipe, and corrugated iron. The 

latter likely derived from the roofofthe oil storagebuildingoran abuttingshed. 

An ext.ant bathhouse, southwest and up the hillside from the deck, probably 

served families living in the south mill town not connected to a water supply 

(figure99). 

Kennecott used the area south of the deck.adjacent to the rail grade, for storage 

of lurnber brought in by the railway. After Kennecott's closure, this area was 

used for storage of oil drums (c) and the relocation of two staff cottages 

(29 c-d) that were originally positioned south of the apartment building (see 

Section 16). The area south of the cottages is currently used as a vehicle turnaround for shuttle buses from McCarthy. 

Two roads join the rail grade adjacent to the general store (19). The road leading northeast served as part of the original wagon route to the Bonanza Mine. 

However, the section running between the general store and the National Creek 

PA RT I 153 
dam (33) is no longer in use and currently overgrown (see Section 7).An Alaska 

Public Works crane is located ashort distance up the road from the rail grade. 

TheSilk Stocking Loop road, created around 1916 and still in use, leads south­

~st and connects staff cottage.< on the hillside with the mill town and storage 

dam. Amodern driveway off this road leads to the rear o: the apartment building (17). Agenerator shed (66) for the Kennicott Glacier Lodge, may have been 

moved from a prior location east of the apartment block 

Vegetation on the hillside obscures evidence ofat least two smaH garden plots. 

154 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT : K ENNECOTT MILL TOWN 
ANALYSIS ANO EVALUATION 

Figurr 99 IJ4ithlwuse (47) ~11fnmrSilk t.lodini l.»(lf' n,.uJ, l1>0.ling wutliL& (MTIJfldJ J(l(11111L"t1t,mcn. 1997. J 

P A RT I 155 
SECTION 16 

43 

\ 

,. "' .. ,."",.,"",.",.""...1:1,9 ... ,. ,. .. .. .. ,. ,. ,. .. ,. .. ,. .. A A A A A .. A A A A A A A A A A "" ....... ,. ,. ......... ,. .. ..... ,. .. ,. ..... ,. .. .. .. ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .. ,. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. ,. .. ,. .. .. .. ,. ,. .. A ,. A A A A A .. A A A A A A A A A ,. .. .. ,. .. ... ,. ,. .. ... ,. .. ,. ... ,. .. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. .. .. ... .. ,. .. ... ,. .. .. ..:...:..:•:•:,.:•:........~,. ,. 

14 

... · ..- 3 

4 .. ... 6 5 CJ 

• 

7 

8 D D ( 

52 

A A A A A ,. A A A A A A A A A A A A 

fjgure IO(), Mapofs«tion 16. Kt.nnecott mill town 

0 so 100 150 

~ Scale: Feet 

LEGEND 

_,.\... Property Boundaries/Numbers 17 Kennicott Glacier Lodge 

0 Buildings 29a-b Cottages 

~ Boardwalks 53 Pri\,y

= Roads and Trails 

~ Vegetation 

156 CU LTUR A L LANDSCAPE REPORT: KENNE COTT MIL L TOWN 
At,A ~'r 1S •Nl E\l,.LU"l 1014 

&ct/011 /6 (figun, 100) 

Destripl ion: Uunng lhe Kennecull erJ, 1lus .s,._tion of the mill town JCL-Om 

m<><lateJ staff with families. The live ri:i;iden tial structures, buth in 1916. 

r~plact-J t<'lll conagC$ p1tdk:J i11 tlw ,,..-.i, An J)'3rlmeTit block l Ii) cont,,int'd 

livr, four-room aparuncm,. Four fr«HlanJing ,111tagC$ (2'1 a-b) ""'" mnstructed ianru-r ~uth. S11niL11 10 the south dust<'r ofStlk StoJdng loc•p l'1t• 

loges (s~Section 14 ), whid, wcr,· aho constructtd 111 1916, ti!<! lour l\'S1Jen,o 

were fined with ekctn.:ity,altl1011Wf th()'Jid not mduderunningwatc:rnr~learn 

he3t. Allv.-.holr privy (.BJ, n11w disused, sen·,,ed tlw ~rartment block. The 

four.:onages snuth of !he apartments were mdi titi<-d wtth pril ie,. 

l'osr-Kcnn,-con-.:n Jisturronres occurred clo.-.e to rhe rail grnde Jnd .tround 

the orJrtmrm building. In the late 197~. 1he ar•arhnr111 building became 

refurbi,h,'tl as the Krnnko1I <.iLloer l.tldge.Altcr a fire m 1983, the lodge \\.I!. 

rebuill mkl'l'pmg with tlS ongmJI hlrm. ln 1991-1993, in onler 10 allow fur u 

M1u1lwm cxte-nsion to the building,ti\,;, \IJffrnllagcs (29 c-d) were mol'ed down 

10 I~ rail grade lcwl (stt !'-n:tkm I• ,111J figun: IOI). ,\lod~m IJ11.b.:ap,n1,: 

around the guest lodge tndot.!es d~uulltc.:rn mlnmredriltway and grJ~~ !Jwn. 

The,urn:nt steps [~ding up ro the loJi,:,-,; \\~re prnbabl)' remodeled ahcr the 

1983 fin>. Al the mil e,rode lc\-.:I, managcmc111 has built nn information sign ant.I 

plan1c.J b,:rry shrubs on lhe hill slop-, 

Se.a/011 /6: Frnlllre Assessment 

Priv,11~ pr,,pcrty-nn ~~=cnt m,ule. 

F"furt 101 {~11\ui.Jour6' ukmi ni.il~m.J.t rrr 

li!UI~ ..~,,,,.'11.,,,. T1IZ l'OfW).Y /1lltlln 

favrirva..J - ,,.,,,_.,""""',,,.....,...,., 

IN l:n!N•<>fl<il..lff L,,Jl" 11;1Kt:11 ut du 

l"' li;l\'urrJ I.YI'!>rJ,ou,t,i,. 1\'11.~I 

PART I 157