There's no place like Nome: gold rush town draws visitors, prospectors.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: Regional Focus

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Perched at the edge of the Bering Sea on the south coast of the Seward Peninsula, Nome sits 102 miles south of the Arctic Circle, 161 miles east of Russia and 539 air miles northwest of Anchorage. As a vital community hub, Nome is mostly a governmental service provider for the Bering Strait/Norton Sound Region. The city is home to about 10,000 residents.

Gold Rush Town

Since the 1899 discovery of gold in Anvil Creek, Nome's history has been closely connected to the mining industry. That association is even stronger today with the current gold rush that's unfolding. High prices have triggered a renewed sense of gold fever, according to Barb Nickels, executive director of the Nome Chamber of Commerce.

According to Nickels, the State of Alaska's Division of Natural Resources just issued 135 recreational offshore suction dredge mining permits to go along with the 39 professional offshore dredge mining permits. DNR also has opened up a second recreational dredge mining area along Nome's West Beach to accommodate the anticipated influx of new gold seekers.

Last August, DNR auctioned 23,793 acres of marine placer gold prospects in two groups: 53 small parcels--ranging from 40 acres to 160 acres--and 31 larger tracts. Many of the smaller parcels were purchased by locals, with most of the larger tracts (1 mile offshore) bought up by Anglogold Ashanti Ltd. and De Beers. The Gold Prospectors Association of America's Cripple River Gold Camp has also added two additional gold camp sessions to accommodate the interest in gold prospecting and mining. "All of this activity is welcome by the chamber, and we continue to support, encourage and welcome visitors to Nome," Nickles says.

In terms of what's happening shore side, Nome Gold Alaska Corp. has purchased about 11,000 acres of Alaska Gold Co.'s placer gold patented claims in and around Nome. The company plans to begin placer operations using traditional mining methods on a small scale and ultimately ramp up to year-round operations, Nickels says. In addition, Edmonton, Alberta-based Graphite One Resources has begun drilling their Graphite Creek Property located approximately 120 miles north of Nome.

Six miles east of Nome, NovaGold Resources Inc. recently sold the shuttered Rock Creek open-pit gold mine to Bering Straits Native Corp., which plans to assess the mine and either operate it or reclaim the property. The mine is now in care and maintenance status.

The Discovery Channel's "Bering Sea Gold" show is also fueling the intensified interest in gold. Each time after the show aired, the chamber and City of Nome became inundated with phone calls from aspiring miners. The show is currently taping a second season and has contracted with the major players for an additional five years. "We anticipate the future success of this show will play a big role in the recreational area offshore dredging mining interests--even for those who had never imagined they had an interest," Nickels says.

Gold mining activities will bring new people with new money to the area. This will lend support to the economic viability of the city's businesses, as well as offer more employment opportunities. "While I can't quote the number of new people coming here," Nickels says, "so far this summer you can certainly see many four-wheelers running around town with all sorts of gold mining apparatuses strapped aboard."

Tourism

Like mining, the tourism industry continues to be a major element of Nome's economy. Tourists have always been drawn to Nome because of its gold-mining history. Nome may have a great deal of historic ambiance, but it's a bustling city with plenty of activities, shopping and restaurants to engage tourists, Nickels says. Tourism is a major component to the success of local businesses, and Nome has the basic...