Traveling south on the Richardson Highway, from Glennallen to Valdez, it is easy to zip by the community of Copper Center without realizing it. Located on the Old Richardson Highway, a slight detour is required to visit this town, but it is well worth the effort.
Positioned at the confluence of the Klutina River and Copper River, Copper Center is a historically important location. The Ahtna Athabascans have inhabited the Copper River Basin region for thousands of years and the land at Copper Center was one of their traditional village sites, enabling them to take advantage of the resources in the area.
European exploration of the area began as early as the 1780’s, but it wasn’t until Lt. Henry T. Allen’s 1885 expedition that any written geographical or scientific data were recorded. Additional exploration and expeditions encouraged mineral development; the influx of miners into the region from the Klondike Gold Rush brought hands willing to work. In 1896, Ringwald Blix built a roadhouse which was well known for its high quality service and became an important supply point for miners during the 1898 Valdez and Copper River Gold Rush. The original roadhouse was destroyed in 1932 in order to build the Copper Center Lodge, which is still in operation today. Though the Copper Center Lodge is open year round, the George I. Ashby Memorial Museum and a gift shop are only open during the summer season. The museum contains artifacts and memorabilia related to the mining history of Copper Center’s early days, as well as examples of local basket weaving. Within the lodge itself is a restaurant, Mummy’s. With its good food, reasonable prices, and inviting atmosphere it is by far my favorite place for lunch in the region.
After having lunch at the Lodge, you might want to head down the road to the Fishing Widow. Opened in 2005, this shop features locally produced arts and crafts such as soaps and lotions, pottery, photographs and prints, and etched glassware. We go there for the ice cream, however! Custom flavors such as Glacial Silt and Polar Bear Hair are guaranteed to please your palate. Every year The Fishing Widow sponsors an ice cream naming/recipe contest. Locals dream up the ingredients and name for a new flavor of ice cream; one is chosen, and then offered as one of the selections for one year. The Fishing Widow also serves coffee, smoothies, and most recently, homemade soup served in sourdough bread bowls. The Richardson Highway passes over the Klutina River at Copper Center. This is a popular location for red salmon (sockeye) fishing from June through August, as the numerous vehicles pulled off the highway will attest. Grove’s Klutina River Charters is located conveniently off the main highway and right on the Klutina River. It offers RV parking and camping with electric hook ups, water, and a dump station, as well as guided charters for both king and red salmon.
Finally, just to the north of Copper Center near milepost 106 of the Richardson Highway is the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center. The visitor center includes an interpretive center highlighting the cultural and natural history of the region, a beautiful surround sound theatre, and a bookstore and information center. Regular showings of “Crown of the Continent” take place in the theatre during summer – the photography and narrative are stunning and definitely worth seeing.
Copper Center is a small yet vibrant community with a rich history. Though slightly out of the way for many visitors, it yields its many riches to those who take the time to visit.
