Founded in 1987 and located in the Tongass National Forest, its mission was the rehabilitation of sick and injured eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, ravens, hummingbirds and other avian wildlife brought in from Juneau and Southeast Alaska.

Contributions have included US$10,000 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service toward its building fund,[3] and food for the recovering birds' dietary requirements.

The small structure, independent of the main Tram building, included a shelter for birds too injured to release back into the wild, and a viewing platform for visitors.

The eagles' injuries ranged in severity, and included failure to thrive, torn muscle tissue, and "crop stasis", an inability to digest food.

[9] In July 2010, children reported to the Center that they had found a hermit thrush stranded in the Mendenhall River and in danger of drowning.

The JRC phone service and website ceased operation at the end of October, after which all birds in residence were transferred to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka at a later date.