Latouche is an abandoned mining community for the Beatson Mine, on Latouche Island in Prince William Sound, about 82 miles (132 km) southwest of Cordova and 57 miles (92 km) southeast of Whittier, Alaska. A post office was established here in 1905 but was discontinued in 1955. There were about 20 buildings at the site during the mining operation.
Latouche Island is between Montague Strait and Latouche Passage, about 55 air miles (89 km) from Seward. It was called “Foot Island” in 1787 by Captain Nathaniel Portlock because of its shape. The name Latouche was given in 1794 by Captain George Vancouver, of the Royal Navy, probably after the famous naval commander LaTouche-Treville of France.
A series of copper prospects were staked on Latouche Island in the late 1890s, and the Beatson Copper Mine, in the northwest section of the island, started shipping ore in 1904. In 1915, with World War I needs greatly boosting demand (and prices), the mine was taken over by the Kennecott Corporation. At its peak period in 1917-1918, there were about 300 people working at the Beatson and almost 4,000 people on the island, mostly in the town of Latouche close to the Beatson mine. The mine produced over 182,000,000 pounds (82,553 mT) of copper from 1904-1930. Read more here and here. Explore more of Beatson Mine and Latouche here:
