Drive up to Keno City and visiting the town
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| Panorama of landscape you will see if you visit Keno City |
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| Love this landscape |
The Swedish born John Kinman staked gold claims in Keno already in 1909.
In 1919 he found silver ore and staked a claim on the site of current day Keno City.
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| Panorama close to the old mining site of Elsa |
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| Keno Cabins, newly built. |
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| One of many old vehicles |
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| If the walls only could talk and tell the story. |
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| Keno City Hotel |
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| Liz inside the museum. |
Teamsters on huge wagons hauled the silver ore to the paddle wheelers in Mayo Landing. From 1945 to 1989 nearby Elsa produced 150 million ounces of Silver, 490 million pounds of Lead, and 370 million pounds of Zink. Elsa was the top silver producer in Canada during that time.
Today driving on the gravel road to Keno City we went by the defunct settlement of Elsa. Now closed to the public. Homes and apartment blocks stand empty and sad. Commercial mining junk is everywhere.
Keno City is different. Keno City today has about 15 residents.
We met some of them, they are wonderful people. They are a pro-active and resilient group. Together they collected and preserved some of the equipment, tools, memorabilia, and photographs of the boom time in their interesting Keno City Mining Museum. The museum is in the old, now renovated Jackson Hall, the old community centre from the 1920's.
Visiting the museum, we experienced a look back to the boom time mining era with its mechanical innovations, equipment, tools, but also the hardships of the miners.
Today, the man in charge of the Museum, once he closes at 6 pm, he opens up the pub at 6:15.
Another man, in his 1960's station wagon was busy all day watering the flowers and plants growing around town. He did not talk or looked at us.
Across the street from the pub, the Keno Hotel is under renovations and back in business? The note on the door said back in 5 minutes, we waited a half an hour and nobody came back.
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| Anders talking to Sonia |
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| The old church, now also serves as a library. |
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| Keno City Mining Museum |
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| Old compressors. |
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| This contraption was walked on it's own power from Dawson City to Keno |
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| An old wagon, look at its height! |
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| The glass house, made from glass bottles. |
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| Sign at Mike's place....., he has a dog named Lucky... |
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| Mike and Anders....... Pizza is coming! |
She showed us her beautifully renovated home, and smiled and spread her genuine warmth and welcome.
She recommended to go for lunch at Mike's Snack Bar.
Mike Mancini is the soul of today's Keno City. Born in Italy, he immigrated with his parents to this mining town as a child.
Mike is the owner, operator of the snack bar. He serves fantastic pizzas and all the oral history of the area. Just make sure you have time to listen and enjoy.
It was at Mike's place we ran into some clients from Victoria, now living in Dawson City.
They were the only other clients all day! We shared our pizza and had a good visit.
Mike said we had to drive up Keno Hill. I am glad we have a truck with good traction and clearance.
The 10.5 km trail is really a rubble track and river bed. Not recommended for regular cars! Please see our next blog about Keno Hill.
Have a look at some more pictures from Keno City and the drive up.
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