It’s our 30th anniversary! BTW, we always appreciate extra support, which you can contribute here.

Regular hours: The museum is now closed for this season, but will re-open mid-May for the 2026 summer season. For additional information about the Museum contact the Last Chance Mining Museum at 907-586-5338 or glrrlg@alaska.net, or by mail at 1001 Basin Road, Juneau, AK 99801. Museum news is also posted on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=last%20chance%20mining%20museum

Special invitation to local volunteers:  would you be interested in sharing local history with summer visitors one afternoon a week in beautiful Last Chance Basin? The volunteer-run Last Chance Mining Museum welcomes visitors late May until early September. If you’d like to know more about volunteering at this historic site, call (907) 780-4355 or email juneauhistory@gmail.com

Fun Fact: Guess what cute little mining museum is recommended as a “must see” attraction in Juneau, Alaska, by Lonely Planet (as is the Treadwell Trail)?
Take a look: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/alaska/juneau/attractions/last-chance-mining-museum/a/poi-sig/426987/361752

The Museum
The Gastineau Channel Historical Society operates the Last Chance Mining Museum located near downtown Juneau, Alaska. The Museum is located in the former Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Company’s historic compressor building, which was used by the company from 1912 until 1944.

Historic note on the arrival of the compressor:
DECEMBER 8, 1914-The biggest air compressor ever shipped to Alaska arrived on the freighter Meteor last week for the Alaska-Juneau Mine. This morning the Humphries Transfer Company hitched all of its horses and some borrowed ones in a team to move the 56-ton Ingersoll-Rand machine to Last Chance Basin. It has the capacity to operate 40 machine drills.  Gastineau Bygones – 12/08/1978

The air compressor was proudly featured in a 1932 Ingersoll-Rand ad proclaiming its use to power the AJ Mine’s pneumatic equipment for world-class production in their special issue on the mine: https://archive.org/details/sim_engineering-and-mining-journal_1932-09_133_9/page/n1/mode/2up

Visitors will encounter one of the world’s largest mining air compressors, a host of industrial mining tools and artifacts associated with hard rock gold mining, as well as electric locomotives and rail cars which hauled men to the mine and ore to the mill. Glass artist Rachael Juzler created a series of 14 glass tile plaques spelling a message of hope during Covid.  Check it out in our unique scavenger hunt!  Access to the Museum is via a short hike up a scenic hill on a trail of uneven terrain, but is well worth the effort.  Park at the end of Basin Road, then follow the signs to Gold Creek, cross the footbridge, and hike up the short hill.  Those with impaired mobility may call 907.586.5338 in advance to request help for transport.  The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Alaska Gold Rush Properties.