Salmon River Placer Mining Camp, Kobuk Valley National Park, Western Arctic National Parklands, Alaska

Hovis, Logan

A site visit to the Salmon River placer mining camp was conducted by the mining historian from the Alaska Regional Office on August 16, 2006, at the request of the park office in Kotzebue, Alaska. Logistics and guidance were expertly and comfortably organized through the Wilderness Coordinator/Pilot in Kotzebue. The primary focus of the investigation was the known camp site which was active between 1946 and 1950. Three additional sites associated with historic placer prospecting were identified from the air on the upper Salmon River. One was examined on the ground the same day. A fourth site, containing the remains of a churn drill, was found the next day by the Wilderness Coordinator traveling in the upper Salmon River drainage on unrelated business. The main camp and one of the three drilling sites—or fly camps—were examined on the ground. The work includes a sketch map of the main camp site, a written description of features and artifacts present, and photography. The one drill camp visited is described and some of the diagnostic artifacts are discussed. Particular attention was given to observed and potential hazards and contaminants. The previously known camp is by far the largest of the four sites. It is, however, a base camp which supported activities at the other three known sites. Since the overall function of the work was to test the ground of the upper Salmon River for its potential to produce gold, other work sites could easily be found in the general vicinity.