Amalga

Alaska's ghost towns are the most extreme on the continent — total commitment, total abandonment, everything preserved by the cold.

Amalga is a former gold-mining town outside of Juneau, Alaska. The area is now part of the Tongass National Forest. The Library of Congress has a photograph of Amalga by Winter & Pond in its collection. The area was once homesteaded and farmed. A horse tram brought goods delivered by steamship to the mine. Amalga had a post office near the Eagle River Mine. Amalga was established in 1902 and abandoned by 1927.

The on-the-ground condition of Amalga is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Amalga is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.