Who we are
Friends of Kennicott was founded in 1988 by local Kennicott and McCarthy residents, in partnership with others representing tourism, mining, conservation, and historical preservation. Since its inception, Friends of Kennicott conducted emergency stabilization of key structures, facilitated National Park Service (NPS) acquisition, and helped the NPS develop a vision for the site.
Friends of Kennicott continues to advocate for:
- Protection of Kennecott’s historical, cultural and natural features.
- Maintaining a vibrant community with a local/NPS partnership management strategy.
- A "light touch" management approach to retain the area's rustic character.
- A safe and rewarding experience for residents and visitors alike.
Our history
Our first major accomplishment was to raise state and federal funds to perform emergency stabilization on nine Kennicott Mill Site buildings. Between 1991 and 1994 a local contractor and a 100% local crew repaired roofs and foundations to stabilize key structures in the privately-owned millsite. Realizing the benefits public ownership would bring, Friends also began to lobby for NPS acquisition of the mill site. In partnership with the Conservation Fund, these efforts succeeded in 1998 when a federal appropriation resulted in the acquisition of the mill site and mines, and paved the way for creation of the Kennecott National Historic Landmark.
With Congress specifically supporting a community based partnership concept for management of Kennicott in the legislative record for the appropriation, Friends of Kennicott actively worked with the local community and the NPS to realize a shared vision for the future. Friends facilitated planning for the cooperative management of Kennicott by the park and local non-profits through
multi-stakeholder planning meetings and the creation of several key planning documents. Friends secured state and federal funds for the restoration of the Recreation Hall, which was completed in 2002 with matching funds from the Rasmuson Foundation and others. From 2002 to 2009 the Kennecott Recreation Hall was co-managed by Friends of Kennicott in partnership with the NPS, and its mining era purpose continues today as a space dedicated to community use.
Today, Friends of Kennicott is looking to broaden its horizons to better meet our mission: Friends of Kennicott is a locally-based nonprofit organization established to assist the National Park Service’s efforts in preserving and managing the historic resources of the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark in a way that maintains the character of Kennicott and McCarthy for the visiting public and resident alike.
Our core purposes include:
- Enhancing connections between the McCarthy/Kennicott community and the National Landmark
- Helping maintain Kennicott’s authentic character in the context of a thriving bush community
- Facilitating other nonprofit partnership opportunities with the National Park Service.
Highlights from our history and accomplishments
Dance in the restored Kennecott recreation hall
Photo by Jeremy Pataky
Before 1988: McCarthy landowners and businesses, miners, historical preservation advocates, conservationists, and tourist-related folks brainstorm how to save Kennicott’s deteriorating buildings.
1990: Friends of Kennicott is officially chartered with the following original Mission: “to preserve, restore and render available to the public the historic mine building located at Kennecott.” Kennicott is named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “List of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.” Joseph Sax report is published: “Keeping Special Places Special: McCarthy, Kennicott and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – A Great Challenge, A Unique Opportunity.”
1988-1989: Friends of Kennicott, Historic Preservation Fund, forms to facilitate emergency stabilization of historic buildings in the Kennicott Mill site and eventual NPS acquisition. Alaska Legislature passes resolution in favor of NPS acquisition of the Kennicott Mill site.
1992: Both Congress and the Alaska Legislature appropriate funding for emergency stabilization. NPS and Friends of Kennicott agree on pre-acquisition construction priorities under a Friends contractor. NPS begins asbestos clean-up with funding from Kennecott Copper Corporation.
1993: Friends of Kennicott receives two national awards: “Take Pride in America,” and a Department of the Interior “Volunteer Service Award.”
1994: Friends prepared “A Proposal for Ownership & Management of the Kennicott Property: Protecting the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Alaska’s Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park.”
1995-1997: Acquisition discussions ramp up with additional assistance from The Conservation Fund. Friends of Kennicott receives a national Partnership Leadership Award.
1999-2000: Reports and Plans: “Partnership Management Strategy” prepared for Friends, NPS and State Office of History & Archeology, June 1999. “NPS Interim Management Plan” (2000), and “Vision 2000” (Mike Loso). Friends adopts new Mission Statement.
2002 to 2009: Stabilization and restoration of Recreation Hall completed with matching funds from Rasmuson Foundation and others. Recreation Hall Management in partnership with NPS.
2010: Friends of Kennicott revitalizes! The organization revisits its core values, and renews efforts to track overall stabilization efforts and work with the NPS, local community, and statewide and national organizations to implement the light touch/partnership vision for Kennecott that provided the original consensus foundation for NPS acquisition. Recreation Hall management transferred to locally-based nonprofit Wrangell Mountains Center. Friends also reacquaints the park staff with the administrative history of the Landmark, and conducts community “brainstorming” session about current management issues.
2011: Friends continues to advocate for a partnership management vision and a “light touch” approach during the revision of the Kennecott Interim Operations Plan. Friends also supports efforts to redefine management of the Recreation Hall that is mutually beneficial to the NPS, the Wrangell Mountains Center and the community.
Photo credit: NPS/Mike Townsend & Otter
“Light Touch” Management Concepts
The 2001 Interim Operations Plan for the Kennecott National Historic Landmark included a section titled Management Concepts, describing a shared community vision for management of the Landmark. These Management Concepts emerged from more than a decade of public discussion preceding the acquisition of the Landmark and were put into writing by Friends of Kennicott and endorsed by the community in general at the time of acquisition. In 2010, Friends of Kennicott hosted a follow-up community discussion in Kennecott that reaffirmed broad support to carry these concepts forward into the revised Kennecott Operations Plan with minimal alteration. Collectively, these concepts embody the “light touch” approach.
Management Concepts
In all management activities, the McCarthy/Kennecott community
seeks to assure a future in which Kennecott:
Is stabilized to prevent deterioration of historic structures or artifacts and to make them available to the public, to the greatest extent possible in accordance with public safety.
Is managed with a “light touch” in which projects are undertaken in small steps, at modest costs, with minimal intervention process. How the “light touch” approach will be defined in relation to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties will be determined by a cooperative process involving local residents and NPS.
Is not just an abandoned mining town, but also a place that reflects the vitality, creativity, and community spirit of today’s residents.
Retains the slow pace, quiet, and spaciousness that foster contemplation and individual reflection. In particular, NPS will encourage visitors to enjoy the NHL as pedestrians, and will seek to minimize the impact of management activities (including, but not limited to, noise and visual impact) on both visitors and local residents alike.
Is part of a larger community in which residents act both individually and collectively to guide the future of the area.
Contributes to a strong, reasonably diverse economy that includes locally owned and operated businesses, community-based nonprofits, and traditions of barter and subsistence.
Protects and honors small-town values: safety, cooperation, self-sufficiency, and personal freedoms consistent with state and Federal laws.
Is a place where tourism is allowed to evolve within the capacity of the community, rather than a place where external intervention and control accelerate growth.
Is seen by local residents and visitors alike in its true context: a remote outpost of civilization in the midst of an enormous mountain wilderness.
Is managed to protect the cultural and natural resources of this historic mining district and the surrounding glacial landscape; and provides a safe, educational, and rewarding experience for the area’s visitors and residents.
Board of Directors
Friends of Kennicott is governed and managed by an all-volunteer board
Neil Darish
Neil Darish is co-owner of McCarthy Ventures LLC, and has been involved in restoring much of the visible part of McCarthy since 2001. He operates the McCarthy Lodge, Ma Johnson's Hotel, Golden Saloon and a number of other businesses in McCarthy. Neil has been living year around in McCarthy since 2001.
Sally Gibert
Sally Gibert, Secretary, is a founding member of Friends of Kennicott and cabin owner in McCarthy since 1976. She resided in McCarthy in the late 1970s and early 1980s and helped renovate the historic Hardware Store. Retired from the State of Alaska since 2011, she currently lives in Anchorage and visits McCarthy and Kennicott whenever she can.
Jim Sartin
Jim Sartin is the newest member of the Board. Jim’s background in aviation has allowed him to experience much of the World with residencies in Saudi Arabia, China and the Philippines. He has a BS in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA in transportation from American University. His travels have given him a keen.
Ben Shaine
Ben Shaine, President, is a founding member of Friends of Kennicott and has lived in the Kennicott/McCarthy area either full time or seasonally for over 35 years. Ben holds a PhD in Environmental Studies from the Union Graduate School. He has authored or co-authored several publications about the Wrangells, including Alaska Dragon and Community & Copper in a.
Jessica Speed
Jessica Speed, Vice President, first came to the Wrangells in 1992 working for St. Elias Alpine Guides, where she promptly fell in love with the Kennicott Valley lands and it’s people. For many years she lived and worked seasonally at her home in Kennicott and spent winters in Anchorage. She currently lives in Anchorage year around where she works for the Nature Conservancy.