Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum

05/03/2026

We had a wonderful day welcoming the Kenai Peninsula Historical Association to Hope today for the spring meeting. More than 30 people came to share updates and stories of Seward, Hope & Sunrise, Cooper Landing, Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Homer and all the places in between (and beyond).

08/12/2025

The Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum will host Neil Perry Gordon for a book signing on Saturday, August 16 from noon to 4:00. He wrote Hope City, Cape Nome, and Denali. Come by to say hello and enjoy a lemon square.

05/26/2025

Hope Museum needs your help to welcome visitors this summer and share our small-town community experience. We hope to be open from 12-4 each day from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Light responsibilities include opening the Museum for tourists and recording daily sales, donations, and visitor numbers. No historical knowledge required. As a nonprofit we can offer $40/day and you can select the days that best match your schedule (like volunteering at the Library). Thank you for helping us keep the museum open to the public :-)

07/12/2023

Fun Hope event for those with moxy! Organized by one of our grant donors and a great organization for our region😊

Are you up for a unique hiking experience this summer and fall? The KMTA Trail Challenge is officially underway, and packed full of fun and rad prizes. This event aims to bring together outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life to explore the breathtaking trails in our National Heritage Area.

06/23/2023

The Museum is open daily now through Labor Day noon to 4pm! We have a sweet new addition to the museum grounds; an old time Ice Cream shop! Stop in for some smiles and learn about Hope and Sunrise’s rich history⚒️

04/04/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100070478137407/posts/261596899532913/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

👩‍🦱📖 In honor of Women's History Month, we celebrate the incredible story of Nellie Frost and her experiences on the mining frontier during Alaska's Turnagain Arm gold rush. Thanks to a 2020 KMTA grant, "Gold Rush Wife: Adventures of Nellie Frost as told to her daughter Dorothy Frost," edited by Rolfe Buzzell was reprinted by Ember Press.

This inspiring read provides insight into the rich social life of an isolated mining camp, and the bonds women formed with each other and the Native community to survive the harsh conditions.

🛍️ To order your copy visit https://www.emberpressbooks.com/product/gold-rush-wife/

11/05/2022

This is such an honor for Diane and we are so honored to have her working so hard for Hope and Sunrise Historical Society and the museum all these years!

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALASKA HISTORY AWARD category

Diane Olthuis

Diane Olthuis of Hope was recognized for her years of dedicated service as director of the Hope & Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum, president of its historical society and president of the Kenai Peninsula Historical Association. Othius is the author of several books, one on local trapper Harry Johnson and another a survey of the buildings of Hope.

10/20/2022

Nice post by KMTA!

09/25/2022

What a great crew today! The museum is all buttoned up for winter and I can’t help our volunteers enough for lending a helping 🖐. We had fun catching up after a busy summer and enjoyed serious Yum goods from Turnagain Kayak Coffeehouse. Looking forward to next summer and keeping the ’good ole’ in Hope!❤️‍🔥

09/18/2022

The angle of the sun puts a sweet slant on life. Next Saturday, 9/24, we will have a work party for board members or locals who want to help put the museum to rest for the winter. Should be a busy couple of hours starting at 9am! Come help out and be a part of the commitment to keep the Real Hope alive!