Willow Creek Mining District - Near Houston, AK, USA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 61° 42.629 W 149° 13.925
6V E 381998 N 6843952
The Willow Creek Mining District was an established claim and settlement that was typical of other mining districts in then the territory of Alaska.
Waymark Code: WMB57Q
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 04/06/2011
Views: 2
Along the Palmer-Fishook Road, at a turn-off by a stream and next to the bridge that crosses the stream, is a sign that tells about the Willow Creek Mining District.
The sign states:
"Willow Creek Mining District
Mining districts were established where no local governments existed to record mining claims. A mining district made its own laws. Following this tradition, miners at Knik, Alaska established the Willow Creek mining district in 1898.
Placer to Hard-Rock
Placer mining has preceded hard-rock gold mining throughout history, and the Willow Creek district was no exception. The district had humble beginnings in 1897 at a small placer mine in Grubstake Gultch, a tributary to Willow Creek. Placer mining in the area failed to meet expectations, sending prospectors into the hills in search of the mother lode.
The Many Mines
The district was changed forever in 1906, when Robert Lee Hatcher staked the area's first hard-rock claim. Other discoveries soon followed and hard-rock mining quickly overshadowed placer mining. The Willow Creek mining district grew to more than 38 mines and prospects, becoming Alaska's second most productive hard-rock district."
In the background is a reproduction of a topographic map with circles that marked out the mines. For each location, there is a picture and a caption that describes that mine. Come see the marker to see these details.
Up the road into the mountains is the Independence Mine State Park, where a collection of mines including the Independence Mine, which were part of the Willow Creek mining district. This location is now a historic park where people can walk around ruins of the mine and read the signs along the way. It is well worth the trip to see. These mines continued to operate until World War II.
Marker Name: Willow Creek Mining District
Marker Type: Roadside
Addtional Information:
The sign is by a road turn-out and near a bridge over a brook.
Date Dedicated / Placed: 1/1/0000
Marker Number: 00
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Visit Instructions:
Preferred would be to post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Alaska history please include that in your log.
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