The city of Juneau was officially established in 1900 and named after the gold prospector Joe Juneau who, with his partner, discovered gold here in 1880. The site of this northern city was once the location of a small fishing camp of the local Tlingit Indians, and nestles amongst the surrounding towering mountains and stands on the eastern bank of the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle region of South Eastern Alaska. This beautiful area of Alaska was shaped by the staggering forces of massive glaciers millions of years ago which has left us with picturesque fjords and awesome mountain landscapes that are covered in majestic forests and crowned in snow. The modern, bustling capital city of Juneau is home to approximately 31,000 residents and is the only state capital in the U.S. without road access and can only be reached by air or sea. Juneau overlooks Douglas Island and stands at the heart of the Inside Passage and is recognised as the gateway to the stunning Glacier Bay National Park. Located approximately 1,500 kilometres northwest of Seattle and just over 900 kilometres southeast of Anchorage, Juneau is a popular cruise ship destination with an estimated one million passengers arriving each year. The economy of Juneau relies heavily on tourism although fishing and mining continue to play major roles in the prosperity of the area.
Local attractions include the old Governor’s House which was built in 1912, the St Nicholas Orthodox Church, the Chapel by the Lake and the Victorian home of the Honorable Judge James. Then of course there is the new Mount Roberts Tramway, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier. Juneau wears its romantic Gold Rush past proudly and provides visitors with three informative museums to help understand the local community. The museums include the Alaska State Museum, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and the Last Chance Mining Museum. The Last Chance Mining Museum is an interactive exhibition and features tools, machines and the remaining infrastructure of the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Co., which was one of the world’s largest and most advanced hard-rock gold mines until 1944. The city is a fun place to explore with a range of activities from browsing the shops to enjoying a few beers with the locals, visiting the nearby Mendenhall Glacier or seeing the local wildlife. Within the locality it is possible to catch a glimpse of a bear, a bald eagle or even a hump backed whale!! Outdoor sports are another big option with fishing, sea-kayaking, rafting, mountain biking and hiking readily available, with rock climbing and mountaineering also within reach. During the winter months downhill skiing and snowboarding provide some excitement, as does a dog-sled ride.
|