Click On Any One Of These Three Photos To Go To A Larger Version
During the 1920's, when Hyder was a booming Gold mining town the Boundary Gift shop shared its space with the U.S Customs Office. This relationship continued until Tommy and Maye Thomas left the business in the late 1970's and the Customs Office took over completely for a few years.
It is said that Tommy "walked" into Hyder from Newfoundland in 1921 to work at the Premier Mine, in the powerhouse. Maye came to Hyder as a schoolteacher. On September 15th, 1927, Tommy wooed and wed his hearts delight.
Hyder is a lot smaller now than it was in those days. The hustle and bustle of the mining days has passed and it's left behind a wonderfully unique "ghost town" with the heart and spirit of all the biggest mining towns in the world. In 1945 the population of Hyder had dropped to only 17 people and Hyder was put on the roster of Ghost Towns in North America. It is now a bustling community of 100 (give or take a few) and a sign above the road coming into town reads "Welcome To Hyder, The Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska."
The Boundary Gift Shop is now being reopened and called the Boundary Gallery & Gifts. The proprieter, Caroline Stewart worked in the original Gift Shop. In fact, it was her first job in Hyder back in 1972. Since then, she has long wanted to share her artisitic talents with others. Now, she has been afforded that chance. Caroline has lived in Hyder for 25 years and knows the area and its inhabitants well. Not just the people; but also the animals, the birds and the plants. A lucky visitor might get her to tell of the morning she and her dog "Gus" walked up on a young bear. As Caroline tells it the bear looked south at her, north at Gus and headed west! Or, the Christmas morning when she looked out her kitchen window and watched a wolf amble by.
Caroline has used her love of nature to help her create many of the wide variety of hand-crafted items found in the shop and she has invited other locals to join her in sharing with visitors treasures created during the winter months.
Visitors must "beware." Once you have visited Hyder; been warmed by its friendliness and seen its charm it is very difficult not to want to go back again and again.
* Featuring the work of incredibly talented local artists
* Fresh Fudge & Ice Cream Novelties
* Artist on Site Daily
* Fax and Copy Services available, Passports Stamped
* Open Seven Days a Week - 9:00a.m. to 9:00p.m.
Visa & Mastercard Accepted
Phone/Mail Orders Welcome
Wholesale Price List Available
Fishing Influences Hours of Operation
This page was last updated on: March 1, 2009
Alaskan Artist
Caroline Stewart, has created
"Guardian Spirits"
Let them be your assurance of
Health, long life, success in
Economic pursuits, and help in
Times of crisis.
In return, you must
Remember to sing their praises,
And uphold their honor
Creatively decorated Conks, make a great addition to any shelf or coffee table.
Be sure to get your very own walking stick, with bear bells attached. The stories you can add to the stick after visiting Hyder are up to you!
Alaskan Hair Wraps; As easy to put in as a rubber band. The Alaskan way to "Tame Your Mane"
Take home your very own bear paw print, cast at Fish Creek. "Hey, I know that bear"
Local Artists offering a wide range of unique works of art including paintings, cards, photos & more...
