As we drove past old log buildings with vegetable gardens and decorations in form of lights and prayer flags my husband said ‘What is this town, is it some kind of hippie town?’ I bursted out in laughter.

We were driving south on Seward Highway and based on a recommendation from the chef on our earlier Prince William Sound cruise we had decided to take a side trip to the small town of Hope.

Hope Kenai Peninsula

Hope was a mining camp for Resurrection Creek and was established in 1896. In the 1890s, Resurrection Creek was the site of Alaska’s first gold rush, even before the Klondike gold rush.

The steamer Utopia arrived from Seattle with 100 to 120 prospectors. Disembarking at the mouth of Resurrection Creek the men named the place ‘Hope’ in honour of the youngest member of the group, Perch Hope.

Many of the buildings from the days of the gold rush is still standing – earning Hope a spot in the National Register of Historical Places.

When you get down to Main Street and the shore line you will find Seaview Bar and Seaview Café. This is where you would find yourself a glass of draft in the evening, they even have live music in the weekends.

Hope Kenai Peninsula

I found this curious photo of a man with a bear dragging his sled (source Hope and Sunrise Historical Society’s homepage). It really made me wonder how life must have been like here in 1890’s.

By 1989 the business was brisk enough at Hope for the Alaska Commercial Company to open a store. In 1899 there were in Hope 200 men, 2 white women and 1 native woman.

Eight years later the boom was over.

Haun Collection 2010.039.001

Photo and facts from Hope and Sunrise Historical Society.

Hope is located on the south shore of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet so vegetable gardens and historical buildings is not all it can offer. It is a popular weekend destination and has an RV camp at the end of Main Street with views over Turnagain Arm.

Hope Kenai Peninsula

When we were there someone had camped at the mouth of Resurrection Creek. Call me a hippie – but it looked like paradise to me!

Signature Inger