Our anticipation for the summer adventure in Alaska grows daily. The chance to work at the historic Gold Dredge 8 fills us with excitement. We’ve been gathering information about this iconic dredge, captivated by its rich history. Imagining the lives of those who flourished during the gold rush era adds intrigue to our preparations.
Over time, the Fairbanks mining district emerged as Alaska’s largest gold producer, significantly boosting the local economy. Gold established Fairbanks’ presence on the map.
Felix Pedro’s gold rush, sparked in 1902, transformed Fairbanks into a bustling hub by the late 1930s. Gold Dredge No. 8 stood at the forefront of this golden era. It served not merely as a machine but as the city’s heartbeat, pumping wealth and prosperity with each thaw of the frozen tundra. It was a time when the clanking of metal blended with dreams of fortune.
Imagine traveling back to the heart of Alaska during the great mining era. You venture from Fairbanks aboard the Tanana Mining Railroad, heading 11 miles north to Fox. Disembarking, you traverse the rugged wilderness to discover the mining hype. Before you stands a colossal machine: Gold Dredge No. 8.
How did this behemoth arrive here? The Bethlehem Steel Company manufactured the dredge in Pennsylvania, shipped it across the country by train, and assembled it in Fairbanks. The Fairbanks Exploration Company owned and operated the dredge.
Approaching this five-story giant, you’d hear metal grinding against stone and gravel, water splashing, and men shouting as they operated levers and communicated.
Sixty-eight buckets on a conveyor belt, each holding 6 cubic feet, scooped rocks and soil into the dredge. Inside, the mixture tumbled, sifted, shook, and rotated, allowing the gold to sink and separate. The dredge expelled the vast majority of the material as tailings out the back.
Essentially a floating metal building, the dredge navigated its own pond, scooping up pay dirt and mechanically panning it. Electricity from Fairbanks powered the operations. Eight people ran the dredge, which operated eight months a year, 24 hours a day, across three shifts. Six additional workers prepared the ground for dredging.
This giant roamed the Goldstream Valley, leaving behind a 4.5-mile trail of altered landscape. From 1928 to 1959, this mechanical beast extracted an impressive 7.5 million ounces of gold.
Water aided the digging process. The staggering water requirement led to another engineering marvel: the Davidson Ditch. This 90-mile waterway (why it's called a ditch is a mystery) channeled water to the dredge and mining operations, softening the earth for easier sifting.
Now, the towering structure stands silent, a monument to history. It whispers tales of the hearty souls who sought fortune in the frozen ground. As a historic site and engineering landmark, Gold Dredge No. 8 invites visitors to explore its decks, touch the cold metal, and view the massive buckets that unearthed gold.
If you find yourself in Fairbanks, consider visiting this legendary landmark in the morning or afternoon. It’s more than machinery; it’s a gateway to a bygone era and a tribute to the pioneers who shaped the “Golden Heart City.”
Not sure how they dig for gold now.....