<p>The mining in the Alaska gold rush was mainly surface mining. The gold had been washed away from its original location and had collected in river gravel and beach sand. Miners took a sample of sand or gravel, washed it in a pan to separate out any gold, and staked a claim if it looked like there might be more gold there.
This photo shows a prospector panning for gold, probably near Nome. At Nome, the beach was open to all, and no claims were allowed. The photo was taken by Frank H. Nowell in about 1905, after the peak of the Nome gold rush.</p>
<p>Original copy negative.

Original photograph: Nowell, Frank H., ca. 1905. Copied after 1947 by Webster &amp; Stevens</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Gold rushes; Gold miners; Gold mining Men--Employment</li></ul>
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Frank_Hamilton_Nowell" class="extiw" title="w:en:Frank Hamilton Nowell"><span title="American photographer and postcard publisher">Frank H. Nowell</span></a>
</bdi>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>