Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is the third largest city in the state, with a population of 29,000. It is one of the largest cities (in terns of area) in North America and is one of two capital cities in the U.S. that are inaccessible by highway. Approximately half of Juneau's residents work for the government. Juneau is one of the 16 Bourghs making the various areas of Alaska.
One of the most popular and greatest scenic sights is the Mendenhall Glacier. In 1880 two prospectors named Joe Juneau and Dick Harris found color in what is now called gold creek, a small, clear stream that runs through the center of present-day Juneau.
In 1900, the decision to move Alaska's capital from Sitka to Juneau was made because of the city's growth, mining activity and location on the water route to Skagway and the Klondike. It overlooks the Gastineau Channel.
Mining remained a mainstay of Juneau's economy until 1944 when increased operating costs and manpower shortages associated with World War II forced the AJ Mine to close. A continuous rise in territorial government activity and employment filled much of the economic void.
Juneau has a micro brewery, The Alaska Brewing Company,
We booked a tour which took us through a private gardens, the Mendenhall Glacier, a tour of a Hatchery, and a tour of the Alaska State Museum. While going by bus to these area's, we saw some of the town. We requested to be let off the bus on the way back to the ship at the RED DOG Saloon.
The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the highlight points of Juneau. The Coastal Glacier is an arm of the Juneau Ice field, one of the largest ice fields in North America (1,500-square miles). Ice at the face of the Mendenhall Glacier is only about 250 years old. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding. Tourists of the 1940s saw an ice face only a few hundred feet from the site of the present-day visitor center. By the turn of the 21st century, the glacier had receded nearly a mile.
As part of the Tour to the Mendenhall Glacier was a tour to the Macaulay Hatchery where you see adult spawning salmon. The Hatchery is a private non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing Juneau area fisheries. At the Hatchary we were told of the 5 species of Salmon, Chum, King, Silver,Coho, and Pink. The hatchery fertilizes the eggs raises the salmon and releases them off to the sea. Of the salmon released, 2 to 10% return. Of those returning salmon, 60% will be harvested by regional commercial fisheries.
As part of the Tour we had a visit to the Angel Gardens.
