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The massive historic building standing on the hillside near the town of McCarthy in Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska, USA is known as the Kennecott Mine. Declared as a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the Kennecott Mine is now an abandoned mining area which has become a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the area.
In 1900, two prospectors decided the hillside seemed appropriate for the pack horses to graze on but it was soon discovered it was a mountain of copper ore. The ore was taken out of the area by pack horses and in 1903, additional funding was found which created the Kennecott Copper Corporation. There were five mines in the area belonging to Kennecott and in 1911, $250,000 of copper ore came out of the area and in 1916, the production had increased to a value of $32.4 million.
In 1938, the last train left the Kennecott mine and the area became abandoned except for one family of three who stayed until 1952. By the 1960's there was talk of the mine reopening but the cost was too high and a few of the structures were destroyed. The historic area started to attract visitors and the remaining buildings were left as is.
Tours are available for those wanting to get a closer look at the historic Kennecott Mine which depart three times a day with a local guide service. Some of the area around the Kennecott Mine can not be viewed as it remains under private ownership.
Alaska. Wrangell/St. Elias NP. Kennecott Mine, est. 1910, processed copper ore til 1938 near the town of McCarthy.
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