Sunday 19 July 2015

Skagway, the starting point for the Klondike Gold Rush


Skagway is one of the starting points for the great Klondike gold rush of 1898. Of all the Alaskan town we visited, I liked Skagway the best. 
It is a small town with a regular population of just over 900 people. Skagway use to be known as Skagua by the Tlingit, and means windy place. The Native Americans settled in this area for the good hunting and fishing. 
I liked it because it was like a living museum. The town has many old buildings, and and new buildings are built to look old.

View from our cabin

 Most passengers on board left early to do tours and visit Skagway.
We had all day, and we were in no rush.
The Celebrity Solstice has a library.
 Here is the growing, living tree.
 Our cabin is the third one up on the left of the bend.
 Welcome to Skagway


There were a lot of drawings and sayings on the rocks along the docks.
We had to check out the local RV park.
 Canadian presence in the area was established by 1894-5 and the group of prospectors walked the trail to White’s Pass. In Aug 1896 gold was discovered 600 miles away on a tributary of the Klondike River. By 1997 a trail was opened and steam ships started to arrive with many prospectors looking to find their fortune. By 1898, Skagway has a population of 8-10,000 and the construction of the railway had begun.

 The history after the gold rush mirrors that of many U.S towns. Prohibition hits and U.S Army takes over a lot of the town which helps the development of much of the infrastructure.



















There were three cruise ship in port the day we were there.
This one was a Holland America one I think.
One of the old hotels is now a show of old experience.
Here the 'girls' are calling out from the windows to entice
people to come into the show. 
...and then there is the quilt shop!
Our ship in the background.
 
Jon bought himself an Alaskan flag for his collection.
Relaxing in the sky lounge.
 
 One of the many glaciers.
 Absolutely loved Skagway.

  

Experience, travel 
– these are an education in themselves. 
Euripides

2 comments:

  1. I'm really enjoying reading about your holiday. Thanks for taking the time to blog about it. We did an extended UK holiday a few years ago, and spent a lot of time looking for internet cafes back then for our daily blogs. But things have changed and so many places have wifi available, as I expect your cruise ship has. It is so nice to see different parts of the world through other's eyes. Any purchases from that quilt shop?

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  2. Oh Jenny, surely did spend more money in that quilt shops. Will post photos in the quilting blog shortly. Loved the cruise, and unlike the pacific cruise we did, We would do the Alaskan one again any day.

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