Juneau has not always been the capital of Alaska. In fact, Juneau has not always been Juneau. But the place nestled against the slopes of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, originally named Dzantik'i Heeni, has always been picturesque and welcoming. After a successful strike triggered nearby mining claims in the 1880s, a makeshift camp grew on the waterfront to serve the needs of adventurers and gold-seekers. As numbers increased, the settlement was called Rockville, then Harrisburg, and finally named after Joe Juneau, one of the prospectors who, guided and advised by Tlingit leader Kowee, had made the original strike. In spite of efforts to move the capital to a central location, Juneau has remained Alaska's capital since 1906 and continues to invite settlers, adventurers, and explorers to visit and appreciate its beautiful setting and rich history.
Ernestine Hayes was born and raised in Juneau. She is the author of Blonde Indian, an Alaska Native Memoir, which won the 2007 American Book Award. Her 2011 children's book, The Story of the Town Bear and the Forest Bear, was the first original story to be published in the Tlingit language. She is assistant professor of English at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.