This Blood-Red Mill Building in Alaska Housed One of the World’s Richest Copper Fortunes Ever Found

Kennecott Mines, Alaska

This abandoned copper mine sits in the middle of America’s largest national park, where nature’s slowly reclaiming what was once a $200 million operation. Here are some interesting facts about this remote Alaskan mining camp.

Two Men Found Green Rocks Worth Millions

Two prospectors, Jack Smith and Clarence Warner, found a green copper outcrop in 1900. Their discovery led to the creation of the Kennecott Mining Company, backed by big investors like J.P. Morgan. Between 1911 and 1938, the mines produced over 4.6 million tons of copper ore worth about $200-300 million.

The operation had five mines: Bonanza, Jumbo, Mother Lode, Erie, and Glacier. At its peak, Kennecott employed about 600 workers in the Alaskan wilderness, becoming one of America’s richest copper mining operations ever.

They Built a Railroad Through Impossible Terrain

Getting copper out of remote Alaska required building a 196-mile railway through some of the toughest terrain on earth. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway crossed glaciers, mountain passes, and dangerous rivers.

Finished in 1911 after three years of work, locals joked that the initials CR&NW stood for ‘Can’t Run and Never Will.’ The railway cost about $23 million to build (over $600 million today) and connected Kennecott to the port of Cordova. This link turned Kennecott from an isolated camp into a busy industrial hub almost overnight.

The Town Banned Alcohol and Gambling

Life in Kennecott was nothing like the wild mining towns you might imagine. The company banned alcohol, gambling, and prostitution within town limits. Workers looking for fun traveled to nearby McCarthy, five miles away, which became the ‘sin city’ to Kennecott’s strict environment.

The company built good housing, a hospital, recreation hall, and a school. Workers earned good money, about $4.50 per day when the national average was just $2.50, but they lived under strict company control and racial segregation was common.

The 14-Story Wooden Mill Still Stands Today

The 14-story mill at Kennecott still stands as one of Alaska’s most impressive structures. This huge wooden building processed up to 1,200 tons of ore daily through a clever gravity system. Ore entered at the top and moved down through crushing and separation processes, with gravity doing most of the work.

The process increased copper concentration from about 12% to nearly 70%. The mill’s bright red color came from leftover paint meant for railway cars. Today it’s the most photographed building in Kennecott and a symbol of early American industry.

They Found Chunks of Almost Pure Copper

Bonanza Mine was the richest of Kennecott’s five mines and produced incredibly pure copper ore. Miners often found pieces of almost pure copper that needed minimal processing. Some single chunks weighed over 5 tons.

The mine had a vein of chalcocite that was 70% pure copper, among the richest ever found worldwide. Bonanza alone produced more than $100 million worth of copper.

The mine tunnels went over 4,000 feet into the mountain. If you visit today, you can hike a challenging 9-mile trail to see the mine ruins.

The Mines Used Electricity Before Most Cities

Kennecott used advanced technologies that were groundbreaking for the early 1900s. The operation had Alaska’s first electrical system, powered by a hydroelectric plant on National Creek. Electric locomotives replaced mules for underground transport.

The company also used advanced chemical processes to extract copper from lower-grade ores.

They even installed one of Alaska’s first telephone systems, connecting all five mines to the mill. Engineers created an aerial tramway system that moved ore from mines on the mountainside directly to the mill, working in all weather conditions.

Women Kept the Remote Community Together

Though mining camps were mostly male, women played key roles in Kennecott’s community. By 1917, about 30 women lived in town, working as nurses, teachers, and office staff. The company didn’t want miners bringing families until housing improved around 1916.

Alaska Native women sometimes worked as laundresses and cleaners. Management families lived in nicer houses in an area called ‘Silk Stocking Row.’

Women organized dances, holiday events, and concerts that helped fight the isolation of this remote outpost, leaving behind diaries and photos that tell their stories.

The Town Next Door Had All the Fun

While Kennecott kept strict rules, nearby McCarthy offered everything the company banned. Just five miles away, McCarthy had saloons, a red-light district, and gambling that drew off-duty miners.

A regular carriage (later motorized) carried men between the towns. McCarthy grew to nearly 1,000 people during the boom years.

Its famous ‘Northern Saloon’ stayed open 24 hours during summer’s endless daylight. Kennecott’s management didn’t fight McCarthy’s existence, seeing it as a safety valve for worker morale.

This odd relationship between the strict company town and its free-wheeling neighbor created a unique dynamic in this corner of Alaska.

Workers Had Just Hours to Leave Town

Despite its success, Kennecott’s end came quickly. In November 1938, the last train left carrying the remaining copper and most people. When high-grade ore ran out and copper prices fell during the Great Depression, the mine became unprofitable.

The closure announcement gave workers just hours to pack before the final train left.

Many left personal items behind. The company took valuable equipment but left most buildings standing. For decades afterward, Kennecott stood frozen in time, with calendars on walls and dishes on tables, creating the time-capsule feel that fascinates visitors today.

The Buildings Sat Empty for Sixty Years

For nearly 60 years after closing, Kennecott sat empty in Alaska’s harsh weather. The remote location kept it safe from vandals and scavengers.

Some buildings collapsed under heavy snow, while others stayed surprisingly intact. During these years, Kennecott became almost legendary among adventurers and historians.

A few squatters lived there, and some tried small tourism ventures. In the 1960s, brief attempts to extract remaining copper failed. Nature slowly took back parts of the site—trees grew through floors, animals made homes in machinery, and glacier dust covered the abandoned structures. This period of emptiness actually helped preserve Kennecott’s historical value.

The Park Service Saved the Buildings

In 1986, Kennecott became a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its importance to American industrial history. The National Park Service bought many of the core buildings in 1998 as part of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Since then, the NPS has worked to stabilize structures while keeping their historical authenticity.

Major projects have fixed the iconic mill building and power plant. The site continues to receive funding for preservation. UNESCO recognized its global significance by including it in the Wrangell-St. Elias World Heritage designation.

How to Visit Kennecott

You can visit Kennecott from late May through early September 2025, with best weather from mid-June to mid-August.

To get there, you’ll need to drive the 60-mile McCarthy Road, a gravel road from Chitina. The road ends at the Kennicott River where you must park and walk across a footbridge.

The National Park Service offers free self-guided tours of exterior areas, while St. Elias Alpine Guides runs the exclusive interior mill tour for $149 per person.