Nome, Alaska Gold Rush

Discover which famous lawman made a fortune during the gold strike.

Men and women join in the stampede.

Do you remember the John Wayne movie, “North to Alaska”?

Click on the video above to see the movie previews for North to Alaska. And enjoy the memories.

The movie was about the Nome, Alaska gold rush. But while the Duke’s (John Wayne’s) movie was a lot of fun, it was a fictionalized account of the gold strike.

The Real Gold Rush Takes Us Back to 1898

The photo above is Anvil Creek in Nome, in 1902

In 1898, Eric Lindblom, John Brynteson and Jafet Lindberg met in the Circle City mining district and decided to look for gold along the western coast of Alaska.

While Lindberg was Norwegian, the men became known as the “Three Lucky Swedes” because they struck gold.

Their strike happened in the Nome mining district at Anvil Creek in the fall of 1898.

The photo above shows a crowded steam ship headed for Nome in 1906.

In no time, thousands of prospectors and others, descended on Nome, Alaska looking to strike it rich.

They staked claims along Anvil Creek and tributaries of the Snake River.

By the end of 1899, the population of Nome had swelled to 10,000.

Yes, You Can Share this Claim - I mean “this edition”

That’s right, your friends and family will strike it rich when they read and listen to this Nome, Alaska gold rush edition of Alaska Stories.

I’m a Tellin’ Ya Ma, Thar’s Gold on This Here Beach

In the photo above, a man and woman look for gold on the beach at Nome

Many stampeders arrived too late to stake claims near the mouth of the Snake River. So they pitched their tents right on the beach – where they made an astonishing discovery.

They looked down at the sand, and discovered gold right at their feet. The find was quickly called “a poor man’s paradise”.

The beach could NOT be staked, and claims were open to everyone. All that was needed was a shovel, a bucket, and a rocker to separate the gold from the sand.

As you might imagine, when someone found a lot of gold on the beach, they were easy targets for thugs who wanted the gold for themselves.

A Crush of 20,000 People Came to Nome

Soon, stampeders could spend their gold in 100 saloons, as well as stores, and restaurants. And hastily constructed wooden buildings were everywhere.

By 1900, tents were set up along the beach for 30 miles, from Cape Nome to Cape Rodney.

By 1905, Nome had a hospital, churches, schools, stores, a Post Office and even an electric light plant.

A hothouse, built on a sand spit across the Snake River, provided fresh vegetables.

The photo above is 1905

And this may surprise you, but some of the first automobiles in Alaska were driving on planks laid out on a muddy Front Street in Nome.

They Came to Nome, They Failed, They Left

By 1909, many stampeders were calling it quits. The population of Nome had gone from 20,000 to around 2,600.

Now in 1920, That was a Lot of Moolah

Did some gold seekers make any money?

Well, the mining company owned by the “Three Lucky Swedes” had made around $20 million dollars.

The photo above is of the famous lawman, Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp was there, and he Made a Fortune in Nome

Yes, famous lawman Wyatt Earp made his way to Nome during the strike. He left with around $80 thousand dollars.

And What About the “Three Lucky Swedes”

The original claims of Eric Lindblom, John Brynteson and Jafet Lindberg, the “Three Lucky Swedes” are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

BONUS

You can easily learn more about this incredible time in Alaska’s history.

Take a look at the Nome Gold Rush and discover.

Connect with Mike and Mary

In the photo above are two Alaskans. Mary (the pretty one) and Mike.

Well, it’s time to put away your shovels and buckets as we say goodbye to the Nome Gold Rush and the Three Lucky Swedes in this edition of Alaska Stories.

Do you have a comment? You can reach us by replying to this email. Or you can Contact Us to say, “I’ve been to Nome, but all I found on the beach was a rusty old can.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska Stories