High above the treeline where patches of snow hold on in recognition of the approaching winter stands a collection of buildings that have fared the elements for decades. We stood among the structures of Independence Mine State Historical Park, among structures that once bustled with the energy of miners. A place that reminds us of the resiliency, grit, and spirit that helped shape the Mat-Su Valley.
“There is something special about these buildings. I can’t quite place my finger on it,” reflects Jodi Swanson, a Park Technician for the Department of Natural Resources – Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) in the Mat-Su and Copper River Basin Region. “But there is something special here.”
Inspired by the the complexity, creativity, and curiosity that is offered by working with a State Historical Park, Jodi has been present for every step of the current rehabilitation efforts at Independence Mine. Her involvement is not just operational, but passionate and personal.
In 2022, the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation received an $1.3 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Managed by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, with oversight from the State Historic Preservation Office, rehabilitation work began in earnest in the summer of 2024.
Since then, the focus has been on the exterior degradation of the Mine Manager’s House, Bunkhouses #1 and #2, and the Mess Hall. The efforts have included the critical structural needs of siding restoration, window and door replacement, foundation stabilization, and roof reconstruction.
But the impact of this work extends beyond technical repairs. Restoring these buildings requires deep respect for authentic materials and architectural intent. It is not straightforward and requires close collaboration among contractors, architects, historical preservation experts, and land managers to ensure every nail and board reflects the site’s history. As Kuchar Construction and ECI Alaska Architecture have shown, the project is as much about restoring craft and honoring the people who once lived and worked here as it is about structural integrity.
Yet, as Jodi shares, the work is ongoing and unpredictable. “Every time you turn around, there is something falling off,” she says. “There are not enough resources to stay ahead. As you’re fixing up buildings, you’re watching other ones fall apart.” This ongoing fragility highlights the urgency and challenge of preserving a place like Independence Mine Historical State Park.
“The community really cares,” Jodi says. “It’s a major part of local history. Communities would not be where they are today without the gold mining districts. Wasilla became Wasilla because of this, it has contributed to this entire area.”
This collection of buildings has history from 1906, when Robert L. Hatcher staked the first hard-rock gold claim in what is now known as Hatcher Pass. At its peak, Independence Mine housed over 200 workers and 16 families, running day and night, year round.
But it wasn’t all hardship. Jodi shares that the workers had fond memories of being treated well, fed well, and entertained. Memories of sledding at the Motherlode Lodge down the road, playing pool and watching films in the Mess Hall, and recreating in their spare time. The mine was not just a work site, it was a community.
Preservation of these buildings has extended beyond what the eye can see. It bridges the past to the present and preserves the stories buried beneath the surface. There is a nostalgia that occurs when standing on the bridge overlooking the crumbling steps to the mining tunnel, one that transcends the romantic and gives way to curiosity.
“People want to know what it was like to live there, what it was like to be a miner and go after the gold,” Jodi explains. “They want to experience that setting in the middle of summer – and in the middle of winter. There’s a curiosity to history and a curiosity to what it was like.”
One moment in the process stood out, a reminder of what makes this project so special.
“When miners made their claims, there was nowhere to post them,” Jodi explains. “They would make their claims and put it in a tin or cigarette container and put it in a cornerstone of their stake.”
One of these original claims was brought in and donated, a document bearing the signature of Mr. Hatcher himself. While visiting the Wasilla Museum, a conservator generously offered their time to help stabilize the original piece of paper.
“That alone would have cost a lot of money. It is now stable and can now be processed and entered into the archival system,” Jodi says. “In the future, a replica can be shown to the public. A piece of paper from 1906, with Mr. Hatcher’s signature and date – that’s kind of amazing.”
The museum community, she adds, has been incredibly supportive. “They know the importance of what we have.”
Moments like these highlight the threads of community coming together under a shared vision, a shared purpose – to honor the stories that helped shape our community.
Hatcher Pass is utilized year-round for recreational purposes. Interactive elements, accessible pathways, improved structures, and updated security measures allows for this site to be accessed and enjoyed by everyone for generations to come.
As Independence Mine approaches its 50th anniversary as a State Historic Park in 2030, Jodi’s vision looks beyond exterior restoration.
The newly restored siding, windows, and roofs have already transformed the way visitors experience the site. It’s a meaningful start that shows what’s possible when care and resources come together.
“The mine still needs love,” Jodi says. “It’s not just brush cutting – this is huge work that needs to be done. And it’s doable.”
She imagines repaired pedestrian bridges, improved security, and continued building restorations. But even more, she imagines being able to share the human stories of the individual miners and the children who lived there, building displays for artifacts, and creating a space that is rich and engaging for kids, hikers, skiers, tourists, and locals alike.
“It needs community,” Jodi says. “And what’s special about this community is that it really rallies around this park and this place. Not only does it bring our community together, but it also attracts outside money from tourists. It’s important, and we should take care of what’s important – not only for our community, but so people can leave with something special.”
Independence Mine is a beloved cornerstone of Alaskan history. This project helped revive more than old buildings, it’s helping to revive Alaska’s legacy.
“I can’t imagine what it would look like if all of these buildings were restored,” Jodi says. “To be able to look through those doors and windows and to see something other than plywood would be just amazing, just amazing. That place would be stunning, even if only on the outside.”
Despite the challenges facing communities today, we left this conversation with the shared sentiment that people still care.
And, as long as they do, this place and the stories it holds, will still stand.
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