The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1898 is a fascinating story in American and Canadian history. The Klondike Gold Fields were north of Dawson City, Canada, and the major port for gold hunters to access Dawson City was Skagway, Alaska. For two years, thousands of people from over 30 countries used the White Pass or Chilkoot trail from Skagway to make their way to Dawson City and claim their stakes. People were required to have a year’s supply of food to cross into Canada. There are incredible photos of long lines of people with their supplies climbing a steep snow covered mountain on their way to the Gold Fields. When their horse(s) died, they just left them on the side of the trail. For the lure of gold, many people risked all, including their lives to be part of the gold rush.Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park museum.Inside of visitor center, once the White Pass & Yukon Route depot.Several famous gold rushers set out from Skagway.How-to manual.This sculpture is explained below:The Moore House, built 1897. This house is open for tours, but we did not have time.The Moore Cabin, built 1887.Frye-Bruhn Cold Storage Building, built 1900.“Crib”The Brass Pic, built 1898, was a house of “ill-repute”. The Klondike Gold Rush attracted many women to Skagway who desired “work”.Skagway Klondike Gold Rush Centennial statue.This is a locomotive that was used to plow snow on railroad tracks.
