History & culture in Hyder

The people and history of Hyder: museums, cultural centers, totem parks and historic sites. Every fact links to its source.

Hyder in brief

The Hyder area was first home to the Nisga'a. (laborstats.alaska.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026)
Early prospectors asked for a U.S. post office named 'Portland City' and were turned down. The town was named for Canadian mining engineer Frederick Hyder instead. (laborstats.alaska.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026)
Mining of silver, gold, copper, lead, zinc and tungsten boomed through the 1920s and '30s. Hyder's population peaked at 254 in 1930 and fell to about 30 after the Riverside Mine closed in 1950. (laborstats.alaska.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026)
In September 1896 the U.S. Army built a stone storehouse near the head of Portland Canal. It is probably among the first masonry buildings in Alaska. (npgallery.nps.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026)

1 listed

Historic site

Rubble-masonry storehouse the U.S. Army built in September 1896 near the head of Portland Canal; probably among Alaska's first masonry buildings.

Outdoor historic structure with no hours. The 1976 nomination says the International Boundary Commission owns it. Current condition is not confirmed.

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