The Treadwell gold mine was the largest mine of the Alaskan Panhandle and, in its time, the largest gold mine in the world. During its operation from 1881 to 1922 over 3 million troy ounces of gold were extracted. The mine was owned and operated by John Treadwell, from whom it derives its name, who was a carpenter and builder by trade who came up during the Juneau gold rush although Treadwell had twelve years of experience in both placer and lode mines previously. The mine was composed of four sub-sites and at its peak employed over 2000 people.