National Register of Historic Places

Hirshey Mine

Hope, Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska
Listed
September 12, 1978
Type
Site
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78003419

About this property

The Hirshey Mine was one of the major gold mines in the northern mountains of the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska in the first half of the 20th century. The mine was, unlike many local claims, an underground operation. It is located in the mountains of what is now Chugach National Forest, on the east side of Palmer Creek about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the community of Hope. The claim was staked in 1911 John Hirshey, who arrived in the area in 1895 and was one of the early settlers of Hope. He called the claim his "Lucky Strike", and it was worked until all mines were closed in the area in 1942. When the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, remnants of two buildings survived, along with the entrance to one of the tunnels and discarded equipment. The mine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Location

Hope, Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska
60.79373, -149.52018

Categories

INDUSTRY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Hirshey Mine

This page lists Hirshey Mine. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Hirshey Mine report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Lauritsen Cabin
Industrial
8.5 mi
Hope Historic District
Listed
9.6 mi
Johnson, Harry A., Trapline Cabin
Industrial
14.6 mi
Alaska Central Railroad: Tunnel No. 1
Industrial
18.4 mi
Mt. Alyeska Roundhouse
Industrial
18.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hirshey Mine listed on the National Register?

Hirshey Mine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Hirshey Mine?

Hirshey Mine is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hirshey Mine?

The period of significance for Hirshey Mine is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hirshey Mine?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hirshey Mine will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Kenai Peninsula County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Kenai Peninsula County.

Explore Kenai PeninsulaCounty ›

More historic places in Alaska

Browse all historic places in Alaska.

View Alaskahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Alaska history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Alaskahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Hirshey Mine will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report