- 1882

Treadwell mine showing original 5 stamp mill (center) and open pit (glory hole) up hillside, ca. 1886.Alaska State Library, William Norton Photo Collection, W.H. Case, P226-306.

Placer mining provided most of the gold production, but lode claims also began to be worked (placer referring to the practice of separating gold from gravel deposits by water action versus lode mining in which valuable metals are separated from bedrock deposits by blasting and crushing the host rock.) On Douglas Island, John Treadwell had learned that samples from his “Parris” (soon shortened to Paris) claim assayed well, so that spring he returned to set up his first 5 stamp mill (machinery used to crush and separate gold from the ore) to begin developing the eventual world-class Treadwell mine complex. Work began on Treadwell Ditch along the northeast side of Douglas Island, to deliver water to mines for hydropower. Another 5-stamp mill began operation in Last Chance Basin, while most gold production was still being mined from small placer claims.

January 10 the local post office name was changed from “Harrisburgh” to Juneau City.  The camp’s name change had previously been voted and approved in a miner’s meeting December 15 the previous year, so the Post Office Department was notified and went along with the local wishes.  It was subsequently shortened to just “Juneau”, to which it remains to this day.

A salmon saltery began operation on Taku Inlet, the first commercial fisheries operation in the area.