Top 12 Fun Facts About Juneau, Alaska

In 1880, Joe Juneau and Richard Harris were prospecting for gold and came across nuggets "as large as beans" along Gold Creek in what is now Juneau. And that’s how Alaska’s capital got its start: it began as a gold mining camp during Alaska’s gold rush era. Within a year of the mining camp being formed, it had transformed into a small town called Harrisburg. That name was soon changed to honor the naval lieutenant commander stationed there, Charles Rockwell. Then,Iin 1881, the miners changed the town's name again, this time to honor Joe Juneau.

With a total area of 3,255 square miles, Juneau, Alaska, is one of the largest municipalities in the United States and the largest capital in the US by area. The municipality is larger than Rhode Island and encompasses part of a glacier field.

On June 21, the longest day of the year, Juneau experiences 18 hours and 18 minutes of full daylight. This is thanks to the ‘midnight sun’ phenomenon, where regions near the poles remain tilted toward the sun for longer periods during summer. This allows daylight to linger well into the night. The sun dips below the horizon for a few hours, from approximately 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., but the sky barely even darkens. Of course, the reverse is true as well, and if you happen to be in Juneau during the winter, you can expect some very long nights indeed.

When you look at a map, it may seem strange that Juneau was named the state capital in 1906, since residents who wish to talk to their local representatives need to either fly or take a ferry to reach them. In fact, Juneau is the only state capital that cannot be reached by road (most visitors arrive via cruise ship). Interestingly enough, Juneau is in close proximity to one of the only glaciers that can be reached by road; the massive Mendenhall Glacier is just 13 miles from the city.

The state capital has invested in cutting-edge tools to help citizens all over Alaska stay in touch with their capital without ever having to leave home. Because Juneau is so far removed from the rest of the state — and only 20 percent of Alaska is accessible by road — residents can call in to listen to any committee meetings and/or live stream all committee meetings.

Juneau is home to 280 species of birds, brown and black bears, five species of salmon, and whales (primarily humpback and orca). Although you may not see them all on your next Alaskan cruise, Juneau is well known for its incredible wildlife — both on land and by sea.

While visiting Alaska's state capital on your next Alaskan vacation, you should check out the Wizard of Oz statues made by local company Reliable Sheet Metal.

Supporting the state's premier theater company, clubs and bars, and numerous restaurants (from casual fare to fine dining), Juneau offers a little something for everyone.

Atop the local mountains is a giant ice field from which about 30 glaciers flow. The most famous of these glaciers is the Mendenhall Glacier, which can be seen from the local road system.

If you enjoy wildlife spotting, keep your eyes to the sky (and on the treetop). The Juneau area is home to thousands of bald eagles, with Alaska hosting the largest concentration of these birds in the U.S. It’s common to see these white-headed raptors perched in spruce trees along the waterfront or circling above nearby channels in search of salmon.

Juneau may feel tucked into Alaska’s wild coastline, but the city actually shares a border with British Columbia, Canada. The mountains that rise behind town form part of the international boundary, connecting Juneau to the vast wilderness that stretches across southeastern Alaska and western Canada.

Juneau sits inside the Tongass National Forest, part of one of the largest temperate rainforests on Earth. That means Alaska’s capital is one of the few places where glaciers, ocean channels, and dense rainforest all exist side by side, creating a rare environment where salmon streams, towering conifers, and coastal wildlife can thrive together.