| Nabesna | |
| Official Name: | Nabesna |
| Native Name: | Nabaesna’ / Naambia Niign Daacheeg |
| Settlement Type: | census-designated place |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Alaska |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Alaska |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alaska |
| Subdivision Type2: | Census area |
| Leader Title: | State senator |
| Leader Name: | Click Bishop (R) |
| Leader Title1: | State rep. |
| Leader Name1: | Mike Cronk (R) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 416.51 |
| Area Land Km2: | 415.06 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.45 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 2 |
| Population Density Km2: | 0.00 |
| Timezone: | Alaska (AKST) |
| Utc Offset: | -9 |
| Timezone Dst: | AKDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -8 |
| Elevation Ft: | 2979 |
| Coordinates: | 62.3712°N -143.0139°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 02-51960 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1406770[2] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 160.82 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 160.26 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.56 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
| Nabesna Gold Mine Historic District | |
| Nrhp Type: | hd |
| Nocat: | yes |
| Location: | Base of White Mountain at end of Nabesna Road |
| Coordinates: | 62.3717°N -143.0126°W |
| Builder: | Carl F. Whitham |
| Added: | April 26, 1979 |
| Area: | 330.6acres |
| Refnum: | 79003755 |
| Designated Other1: | Alaska Heritage Resources Survey |
| Designated Other1 Name: | Alaska Heritage Resources Survey |
| Designated Other1 Date: | May 1, 1978 |
| Designated Other1 Color: |
|
| Designated Other1 Abbr: | AHRS |
| Designated Other1 Number: | NAB-011 |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
Nabesna (Nabaesna’ in Ahtna; Naambia Niign Daacheeg in Upper Tanana) is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in northern Copper River Census Area, Alaska, United States, in the northern part of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It lies along the Nabesna Road, a gravel road that connects it to the Tok Cut-Off at Slana.[3] Its elevation is 2,979 feet (908 m). Founded by and named for the Nabesna Mining Company, the community received a post office in 1909. Located at the base of White Mountain in the Wrangell Mountains, it lies west of the Nabesna River. According to the 2020 census, there were two people residing at this location.[4]
Gold was discovered at White Mountain in 1891, and the site was first developed in the early 20th century. Through the efforts of Carl Whitham, the Nabesna Mining Company was formed in 1929, resulting in an expansion of the camp and the construction of Nabesna Road. The mine was closed during World War II, and only briefly reopened afterward, closing permanently after Whitham died in 1947. The location was used as a secret supply cache by the United States Army during the Cold War. The mine produced of gold during its active period, as well as many tons of silver, copper, and lead.
The old mining camp, now a ghost town, and the mine were listed as the Nabesna Gold Mine Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[5]
Nabesna first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as an unincorporated mining village. It appeared again in 1940 and 1950. It did not appear again until 2010, when it was made a census-designated place (CDP).
The Nabesna mining community is not to be confused with Nabesna native village, which was located west across the Nabesna River from present-day Northway Village (CDP). It also appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census showing 85 residents. There is some confusion as to which Nabesna appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census (showing 41 residents). The native village was reported to have flooded and residents left around 1950. Nabesna was merged with Northway on the 1950 census as "Northway-Nabesna." Some residents had earlier relocated from the native village upriver to the abandoned Reeve Airfield, adjacent to the Nabesna mining community after World War II.[6] Owing to the 1960 U.S. Census map showing Nabesna native village still in existence adjacent to Northway, that is given credence, but further research may be needed due to confirm if this is not erroneous. Nothing remains of that native village as of the 2010s.[7]
Nabesna has a continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).