There?s nothing like experiencing history with your hands and not just with your eyes. This is why tons of museums become such big hits when they offer hands on displays and activities to their guests. This is also one reason why the Gold Dredge Number 8 is such a popular tourist destination in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Declared as a National Historic District, the Gold Dredge Number 8 is also a historic area that is now described as a monument to the miners who built Fairbanks. As the dredge was built in part of the growing mining community, it does know a lot about the area?s development.

Today, visitors can enjoy a museum in one of the historic buildings in the original mining site, as well as a chance to pan gold yourself, just like how the older people strained and got gold extracts back in the day.