Harrison Lagoon is approximately 0.5 miles (800 m) across and situated on the west side of Port Wells in Prince William Sound, about 66 miles (106 km) west-southwest of Valdez and 22 miles (35.5 km) northeast of Whittier, Alaska. The name “Harrison Lagoon” was first recorded in 1916 by James W. Bagley of the U.S. Geological Survey. Port Wells is a fjord extending 14 miles (23 km) south from College Fjord to Wells Passage. Captain George Vancouver of the Royal Navy named the fjord in 1794, likely in honor of Edward Wells, a noted mathematician and geographer.
Between Harrison Lagoon and Hobo Bay lie the abandoned Granite Mine and the remains of an old stamp mill. In 1912, M.L. Tatum and J. Erving discovered the Granite Mine lode. By 1915, there were over 2,000 feet (610 m) of workings, and a 10-stamp mill was crushing rock at the site. The post office was moved from Golden, on the east side of Port Wells, to Granite to serve the 50 men working there. Most gold production occurred from 1916 to 1922. In 1933, a small hydroelectric plant was installed 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the property. The Granite Mine was one of the most productive in Prince William Sound, reporting 24,940 ounces (707 kg) of gold and 2,492 ounces (71 kg) of silver extracted from 31,919 tons (28,956,430 kg) of ore dug from more than 8,200 feet (2,500 m) of workings. The mine remains private property and was reassessed in 1985 to determine its potential for further development.
A public-use cabin is located in Harrison Lagoon, one of at least 21 such cabins in Prince William Sound. The cabin is nestled in a stand of conifer trees on a gravel spit, with one side facing Port Wells and the other facing the lagoon. The lagoon is surrounded by a rocky shoreline and dense evergreen forest, offering views of distant snow-capped mountains. Black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, and bald eagles inhabit the area. The lagoon and Port Wells are home to many seabirds, and Dall and harbor porpoises. Harbor seals, sea otters, and occasionally sea lions also frequent the vicinity. Read more here and here. Explore more of Harrison Lagoon and Prince William Sound here: