The Story of Juneau, Alaska
The Story of Juneau, Alaska
Have you ever heard of a city that was built because of gold? Well, Juneau, Alaska, is just that place! Let's take a trip back in time to see how this amazing city came to be.
Before Juneau: Tlingit Land
Long before anyone called it Juneau, the area was home to the Tlingit people. For thousands of years, they lived off the land and sea. They fished for salmon, hunted animals, and built strong, wooden houses. The Tlingit knew this land well, and they respected its power. They called the area Dzantik'i Heeni, which means "base of the flounder's river."
Gold! Gold Everywhere!
In the late 1800s, things changed. A man named Richard Harris, along with Tlingit guides, found gold in a stream. The word spread like wildfire! Soon, miners came from all over to try their luck. They built camps and started digging for gold. This was the start of the town that would become Juneau.
A New Town is Born
- Prospector:
- A person who searches for gold or other valuable minerals.
- Capital:
- The city where a state's government is located.
- Tlingit:
- The name of the Native American people who lived in the Juneau area for thousands of years.
- Gold Rush:
- A period when many people move to an area to look for gold.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Who lived in the Juneau area before it was called Juneau?
- 2What did the Tlingit people call the area that is now Juneau?
Where this passage belongs
About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“The Story of Juneau, Alaska” is a informational reading passage about Juneau History, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (343 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.