(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Juneau Alaska is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau
Channel on the Alexander Archipelago of Alaska. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2005
population estimate for the City and Borough was 30,987.
Geography
Juneau is nestled at the base of Mount Juneau and across the channel from
Douglas Island and is nearly as large as Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Downtown Juneau sits at sea level, with tides averaging 16 feet, below steep
mountains about 3,500 to 4,000 feet high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Ice
Cap, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; one of these, the
Mendenhall Glacier, is visible from the local road system; this glacier has been
generally retreating for about 200 years; its front face is declining both in
width and height.
Juneau has an oceanic climate, just cooler than Seattle and Vancouver. The
average high temperature in July is 65°F (18°C), and the average low temperature
in January is 20°F (-4°C).
Juneau continues to be the only U.S. state capital located on an international
border: it is bordered on the east by Canada.
History
Long before European settlement in the Americas, the Gastineau Channel was a
favorite fishing ground for local Tlingit Indians, known then as the Auke and
Taku tribes, who had inhabited the surrounding area for thousands of years. The
native cultures are rich with artistic traditions including carving, weaving,
orating, singing and dancing, and Juneau has become a major social center for
the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska.
In 1880, Sitka mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward to any local chief
who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. Chief Kowee arrived with some ore and
several prospectors were sent to investigate. On their first trip, to Gold
Creek, they found little deposits of interest. However, at Chief Kowee's urging
Pilz sent Joe Juneau and Richard Harris back to the Gastineau Channel, directing
them to Snow Slide Gulch (the head of Gold Creek) where they found nuggets "as
large as peas and beans," in Harris' words.
On October 18, 1880, the two men marked a 160-acre (0.6 km²) town site where
soon a mining camp appeared. Within a year, the camp became a small town, the
first to be founded after Alaska's purchase by the United States.
The town was originally called Harrisburg, after Richard Harris; some time
later, its name was changed to Rockwell. In 1881, the miners met and renamed the
town Juneau, after Joe Juneau. In 1906, after the diminution of the whaling and
fur trade, Sitka, the original capital of Alaska, declined in importance and the
seat of government was moved to Juneau.
Transportation
Juneau is only accessible via sea or air; (cars and trucks being transported by
barge or ferry). The State-owned ferry is called the Alaska Marine Highway
System (AMHS) to indicate that water is a transportation system. Approximately
one million passengers arrive each summer on cruise ships. About 40 miles of
paved road provide the only local transportation by vehicle. There are more
vehicles in the city than there are people; many here also own light planes,
float planes, and boats. Local government operates Capital Transit, a bus
service. A few taxicab companies provide service. Tour buses take cruise ship
visitors and other visitors to popular sights and on excursions.
The only airport in town is Juneau International Airport. Alaska Airlines is now
the sole local commercial jet passenger operator. The company provides service
to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and many small communities in the state. One of the
main cities most Juneau residents travel to is Seattle. Barge companies (one of
the main ones is Alaska Marine Lines) transport heavy freight. Other freight
arrives via the ferries or via Alaska Airlines.
Arts & Entertainment
Juneau is home to Perseverance Theatre, Alaska's only professional theater. The
area hosts the annual Alaska Folk Festival and Juneau Jazz & Classics music
festivals, and the Juneau Symphony performs regularly.
Downtown Juneau boasts dozens of art galleries, which participate in the
monthly First Friday Gallery Walk and the enormously popular December Gallery
Walk held in the first week of December.
The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council coordinates events while fund-raising,
distributing some grant money, and operating a gallery at its office near 2nd
Street and Franklin Street.
On summer Friday evenings open-air music and dance performances are held at
Marine Park.
The University of Alaska Southeast Campus also offers lectures, concerts, and
theater performances.
The Juneau Lyric Opera and Opera to Go are the two local opera companies. JLO
produces operas in English and Italian and sponsors two annual choral workshop
festivals, as well as the touring group the "3 Tenors from Juneau."
Juneau News
House, Senate still far apart on rebate
JUNEAU -- The House of Representatives late Wednesday passed a major energy bill with a $1,200 "resource rebate" for Alaskans, setting up what could be a tense, billion-dollar showdown with the Senate today -- the final day of the special session.
Point Thomson leases canceled
JUNEAU -- State officials have canceled nearly all the leases in the disputed Point Thomson oil and gas field, the fate of which remains tied up in court.
Growing up with soapberries is finger-licking good
JUNEAU -- Five women whipped what looked like pink meringue at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, but the recipes involved no eggs or cream.
