Alaska’s Mining History Comes Alive

Feel the Energy of the Gold Rush

Meet Modern Day Prospectors

Alaskan Hospitality at its Best

Strike it rich in the gold fields of Alaska

Your two-hour tour will take you into the heart of the gold fields of the Tanana Valley where you will feel the history come alive.

Historic Gold Dredge 8

Gold Dredge 8 operated in the Goldstream Valley of Fairbanks from 1928 to 1959 and extracted millions of ounces of gold from the frozen Alaskan Ground. Today, Gold Dredge 8 is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the site is a U.S. Historic District. The dredge serves as a monument to the hard working miners who built Fairbanks. You will have the opportunity to be guided through the entire dredge as you see, touch and learn about the history that it contains and the dredge’s importance to the development of Fairbanks _(1).

Living Mining Museum

After you’ve experienced the Gold Dredge 8 up close, walk into our Main Camp and through our Mining Museum. Packed with history and artifacts from the early 1900’s, you’ll learn more about the entire gold mining process from cleaning the land, to thawing the frozen ground, to the final recovery of the gold. You’ll also learn the history of the hearty sourdoughs that first prospected in the area and the hundreds of workers that operated the dredges during their heyday. Finally, you’ll get a chance to see an array of ice age fossils that were found on these very grounds during the mining process.

Tanana Valley Railroad

Your adventure begins at Gold Dredge 8 with a ride on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad near some of the original rail routes.

Once aboard our narrow gauge railroad, you will enjoy a short narrated journey to the dredge. Your regular conductor and commentator is Earl Hughes, who provides festive music along your journey. You will also learn from actual working hands at sites along the way.

Gold Panning

As part of your tour, Alaskan miners will show you how to pan for gold, and you will receive your own poke filled with pay dirt. Friendly guides are on hand to help you uncover the gold in your pan. Comfortable benches and warm water make this an easy and enjoyable experience. Everyone will share your excitement when you strike it rich— and nothing beats the thrill of taking home real Alaskan gold!

Our Story

A rich history

Described as either a floating workhorse or a mechanical gold pan, Gold Dredge 8 extracted millions of ounces of gold from the frozen Alaskan ground. Today, Gold Dredge 8 National Historic District serves as a monument to the hard working miners who built Fairbanks. Gold Dredge 8 is also a National Engineering Landmark.

Gold Dredge 8 operated between 1928 and 1959 and played an essential role in mining and the economy of the Tanana Valley. It is said that dredges and mining saved Fairbanks. In 1942, gold mining suffered a serious setback; the War Productions Board issued it’s famous Order L-208 which forced the closure of all gold mines in the United States for the duration of World War II. After the war was over, very few mines re-opened. By the time the war ended, the miners that once ran the gold mines were in other professions and their wage levels had increased too high for gold mining to support. But Gold Dredge 8 was one of the few mines that did re-open and ran successfully until it was shut down for economic reasons in 1959.

In 1984, the dredge was opened for tours. The Binkley family has run a successful sternwheel attraction for over 60 years and added gold mine tours in 1994. They have been working to share our rich gold mining history with visitors ever since.

Recommended and environmentally friendly

Check out our other experiences

Cruise the great rivers of the Last Frontier with a family who has made the rivers of Alaska their way of life for five generations.

Sustainable, wild-caught salmon from the Southeast Alaskan ocean waters; filleted, smoked and packaged to be enjoyed around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do both the Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 tours in one day?

Yes, our tours are designed so you can do both tours in one day. However, please note that these tours are not at the same location.

Are reservations required?

Although reservations are not required, they are highly recommended. We recommend making reservations as soon as you know the date you would like to go on our tours.

What time should I arrive for my tour?

We recommend arriving at the Riverboat Discovery at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at the Riverboat Discovery you will need to check in at our ticket counter to pick up your boarding passes.

We recommend arriving at Gold Dredge 8 at least 15 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at Gold Dredge 8 you will need to check in at our train station in the parking lot to pick up your boarding passes.

How do I get to your location?

The Riverboat Discovery is located a few miles from Fairbanks International Airport. Take Airport Way West towards the airport; take a right onto Dale Road; continue about 1/2 mile and take a right onto Discovery Drive; we are located at the end of Discovery Drive.

Gold Dredge 8 is located about 25 minutes outside of Fairbanks on the Old Steese Highway. Take the Steese Highway (Route 2) North; take a left onto Goldstream Road; take a left onto Old Steese Highway (the first cross-road); our entrance is the first driveway on the right.

How long should I allow to get to each location?

The Riverboat Discovery is roughly 7 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 20 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to the Riverboat Discovery.

Gold Dredge 8 is roughly 10 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 25 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to Gold Dredge 8.

What address do I enter in my GPS to get to your location?

Riverboat Discovery: 1975 Discovery Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Gold Dredge 8: 1803 Old Steese Highway North, Fairbanks, AK 99712

I don’t have a car. What is the best way to get to the Riverboat Discovery and/or Gold Dredge 8?

We recommend renting a car while in Fairbanks so you can explore the beauty of our widespread community. Many local hotels offer shuttles to the Riverboat Discovery. We recommend checking with the front desk at your hotel for the best transportation option to the Riverboat Discovery. Many of our Riverboat Discovery guests arrive via taxi or shuttle. We do not recommend taking a taxi to our Gold Dredge 8 location. It is outside of town and a taxi would be quite expensive. We recommend either renting a car or checking into a shuttle service such as Go North (907-452-9999) or Airlink (907-452-3337).

What should I bring on my tour?

We recommend bringing a camera and a light jacket.

What should I wear on my tour?

We always suggest wearing layers. A portion of our tours at both locations are outdoors where you are exposed to the elements. Our boats at the Riverboat Discovery have heated/air-conditioned decks for your comfort. The train at Gold Dredge 8 is open air and has a roof.

Is the tour ever cancelled due to the weather?

In our 60+ year history, we have never cancelled a tour due to the weather. If it is sprinkling rain, we provide ponchos, seat cushions and umbrellas for our guests at both locations. If it is pouring rain at the Riverboat Discovery, we will bring the village tour onto the boat.

Will the Dredge be accessible to walk on?

After you have completed your gold panning experience the dredge will be available to explore. Each year there is flooding throughout the valley and the location where the dredge sits will experience high water in the spring making some (or all) of the dredge inaccessible. We will strive to have any parts of the dredge available for access as soon as it is safe to do so.

Will I see wildlife?

You will see reindeer as part of the tour at the Riverboat Discovery.

Is there anything available to eat on the tour?

We have complimentary coffee and fresh donuts at the Riverboat Discovery. If you are looking for something more than donuts, we have three options available at the Riverboat Discovery: Discovery Dining Hall, where we serve a hearty miner’s stew (vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request); galleys on board the boats that have snack food (reindeer dogs, chili, chips, etc.); Captain’s Corner, where we offer lunch boxes (sandwiches, salad, chips and a soda). We also serve locally made ice cream on the boats and at Captain’s Corner in the gift shop. At Gold Dredge 8, we serve complimentary freshly baked cookies, coffee and hot chocolate.

Is there assigned seating on the boat or train?

No, seating is on a first come first served basis. Every seat on board is a great seat. We have TV monitors on every deck and train car that feature a live broadcast and provide supplementary informational footage.

Is there alcohol available for purchase?

Yes, at the Riverboat Discovery, we serve beer and wine on board our boats and in the Discovery Dining Hall.

Are there restrooms on the boat and train?

At the Riverboat Discovery, there are restrooms available on the boats, at our village and in our gift shop. At the Gold Dredge 8, there are restrooms available at our train station and in the gift shop.

How long is the tour and how often do tours run?

The tour at the Riverboat Discovery is three hours long. The Gold Dredge 8 tour is two hours long. Both of our tours run twice a day from mid-May to mid-September.

I purchased my ticket through an on-line agency. Do I need to check-in on-site?

Yes, you will need to check in at our ticket counter/train station to exchange your voucher for a boarding pass.

What is your refund policy?

We offer a full refund if you cancel your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled tour time. After 48 hours, we do not offer a refund but you can reschedule your tour for another time.

Are your tours wheelchair accessible?

Yes, our tours are wheelchair accessible. At the Riverboat Discovery, wheelchairs must board at the stern (back of the boat near the paddle wheel). When you arrive please notify an associate at the ticket counter or collection booth as we require wheelchairs to pre-board and be escorted by a trained Deckhand. Our Athabascan Village has gravel paths that allow easy access. If you need assistance at the Athabascan Village please notify a Deckhand. At Gold Dredge 8, we have certain train cars that are wheelchair accessible. When you arrive notify the associate that is assisting with boarding and they will direct you to the appropriate train car.

Are animals allowed on the boat or train?

Due to customer allergies, we only allow designated trained service animals.

Is the paddle wheel decorative?

No, the paddle wheel is used to power the boat.

Are the tours appropriate for young children?

Yes, we find that all ages enjoy our tours.

Employment Opportunities

Full Time Employment Opportunities - Riverboat Discovery & Gold Dredge 8

Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) directs the organization’s financial planning practices as well as its relationships with financial institutions, partners, and financial community.

Director of Retail

The Director of Retail (DoR) is responsible for managing all retail operations for the Riverboat Discovery and for making sure all retail locations function smoothly while optimizing profits.

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Summer Employment Opportunities Riverboat Discovery & Gold Dredge 8

The work environment at the Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 is unlike any other in town! You can expect to meet people from all over the world, work hard on the job but laugh and have fun with your co-workers at the same time. Some of them might even become friends for life! We have multiple crew parties and get togethers throughout the season that are always a blast! Thank you for your interest in joining our family!

Click here to meet our managers and see a video of our jobs!

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All content will be securely submitted to our HR Department via email and you will receive a confirmation. If you choose not to submit directly via email, deliver the printed application and questionnaire to our office in person, or by mail at the address listed to the left.

Our season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Wages start at $11.50 per hour and include a $1.00 per hour bonus paid at the end of the season.

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Click here to complete the online job application.

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Please feel free to contact us through e-mail at hr@riverboatdiscovery.com with any questions or comments.

Position Descriptions:

Customer Service Specialist

Customer Service Specialists assist visitors with purchases; fill pokes with pay dirt and offer them to visitors; demonstrate gold panning techniques and assist visitors with gold panning; weigh gold and assemble lockets; assist with preparation and clean-up of panning area; sell tickets at the train station; assist passengers with boarding the train; fill in at the gift shop or on grounds maintenance as needed; prepare and stock merchandise for sale; perform inventory control duties; organize and distribute merchandise; perform other duties related to the successful operation of a retail store including cleaning and moderate lifting. Hours: 36-40 hours per week.

Qualifications: Ability to represent Gold Dredge 8 in a courteous and professional manner in order to provide top-notch customer service; demonstrate panning techniques; operate a cash register and credit card machine; perform a variety of tasks related to the operation of a gold mine; sell merchandise according to sales training, strategies and goals; complete tasks efficiently and accurately according to policies and procedures; operate a PC-based point of sale system (possess computer and mathematical skills) while properly handling cash and making change for customers; communicate and work well with others; perform tasks independently with attention to detail; work in a fast-paced environment that requires you to be “quick on your feet” for eight hours a day; have fun with teammates, managers and other employees!

Alaska is ready