The Story of Cooper Landing and Copper Center

About this episode

This episode explores the history and significance of Cooper Landing and Copper Center in Alaska.

EPISODE 100! I didn't realize it was 100 until after I finished recording this. Thank you everyone who has followed the show for 100 episodes! The area of Cooper Landing was home to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, or Dena'ina Indians in the pre-contact era. Some of their semi-subterranean dwellings are still visible in the area. A Russian Engineer found a bit of gold in the area, not a big find, but just enough to spark gold prospectors to seek riches later on which is the reason for Cooper Landing existing today. The village is a cozy nook in the woods along the river. It's nostalgia and natural beauty make it a desireable place to visit. Copper Center is most known for the nearby Kennecott Mines where one of the largest copper deposits in the world was discovered in 1900. However, the native people who dwelt here before knew about this deposit, and they included copper in their vast trade network with tribes across Alaska. The Copper Center Lodge was the centerpiece of Copper Center since the late 1800s and considered "one of the last of it's kind" until it burned down in 2012. Vince Joy, the founder of Central Alaska Mission (later became SEND North), started his work in…

People in this episode

Host: Billy Tjernlund

Topics covered

• history
• native culture
• gold prospecting
• copper mining
• local landmarks
• community

Keywords

• Cooper Landing
• Copper Center
• Kenaitze Indian Tribe
• gold prospecting
• copper mining
• Kennecott Mines
• Alaska history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Central Alaska Mission

Places: Cooper Landing, Copper Center, Kennecott Mines, Alaska

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