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 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.
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.
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.
When we were there someone had camped at the mouth of Resurrection Creek. Call me a hippie – but it looked like paradise to me!
What an excellent find Inger. This photo is excellent and really makes you wonder. Thanks for sharing this place! Cheers!
Thanks – I thought the photo was quite fun! Really makes you think back to how life must have been in Alaska a 100 years ago. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment.
Looks wonderful. I think I need at least a year there to finish my book and find peace.
Thanks Sandra! I think a year in Hope would be wonderful! We could all need it to stress down and enjoy being close to nature! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Nice look at a little history. Wish I had that bear!
Thanks! That was quite an interesting photo – makes you wonder what they were up to in Alaska a 100 years ago doesn’t it?
They are these beautiful old buildings,
beautifully photographed, I love the bear and his sleigh ….
The last picture is very beautiful …
I wish you a good weekend.
Thank you so much Hervé. It was a very charming and cozy village. The photo of the bear was quite a find wasn’t it? Makes you wonder how Alaska was back a 100 years ago. Thanks for stopping by.
As always your shots are beautiful and full of interest…..
Everything sounds new to me!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, much appreciated. Hope was a charming little village! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a note:)
Another beautiful find! Is that bear actually pulling the dogsled I wonder?
Thanks Sue! There was no deeper explanation to the photo that I could find so I guess we can only speculate, but that is what it looks like in the photo to me. But perhaps it is just a leash for the bear to keep it from running away?
Thanks for the interesting post today! Looks a wonderful place to spend some time – I could drop out, be a hippie for a little while…
Me too – I wouldn’t mind staying in Hope for a while to calm down and have time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings!
I always knew you had hippie leanings! 😉 Hope sounds like a wonderful place to live!
Haha…I guess it had to come to the surface one day! 🙂
Lovely photos, Inger. I so enjoy your interesting posts!
Thank you so much and thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Just so beautiful. Love the rich colors and amazing scenery.
Thanks Karin! Since it was fall when we visited the yellow colours were beautifully present everywhere:)
Very cool! Gorgeous scenery.
Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Such a charming and wonderful finding,dear Inger!The photographs are fascinating,the small houses by the shore look like dollhouses and the old sepia photo you found,the one with the bear is so striking and of great cultural value!So sad such a quiet place is almost abandoned.
Thank you so much! Yes – I just had to include the photo of the bear and the sled. I thought is was such an interesting find. It really makes you think back and wonder how life was in Hope a 100 years ago doesn’t it?
What a quiet and beautiful place Inger
The perfect place for a long weekend trip for Anchorage from what I could see. Lots of people seemed to be there for the weekend for fishing and relaxing, just enjoying the views:)
Poor bear!
Definitely not according to what is found acceptable today, but an interesting piece of history I think:)