Gateway to the Klondike

" Skagway, a town situated in a narrow glaciated valley at the head of the Taiya Inlet in Alaska. Positioned along one of the main transportation corridors leading to Canada's interior, Skagway was established as a result of a gold strike in the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon Territory. 

Beginning in the summer of 1897, thousands of hopeful stampeders poured in to the new town and prepared for the arduous 500-mile journey to the gold fields. Realizing the grueling challenges that lay ahead on the route and the economic potential of supplying goods and services to other stampeders, some chose to remain in Skagway and establish a permanent community. Although it lasted but a brief period, and few obtained the wealth they dreamed of, the Klondike Gold Rush left a lasting mark on the Alaskan and Canadian landscapes. 

Today, Skagway's "boomtown" era remains alive in the many turn-of-the-century buildings that survive. The city now hosts half a million tourists annually and has a year-round population of approximately 800."

 

Because there were other ships at the port, our cruise ship had to "park" a distance away, neccesitating a ride in the valletta.

Yup, you guessed it.....drizzeling again, but it did not stop us.

"Six blocks of downtown Skagway, Alaska are designated as a National Historic District. Within this zone, private, state, city, and federal interests have cooperated to preserve or restore the late 1890s atmosphere. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park manages over 20 buildings in the Skagway Historic District and just outside its boundary. These buildings are being preserved by the National Park Service to honor the struggles of the stampeders of the Klondike Gold Rush and to preserve the legacy of this important event in our nation's history."

We didn't walk the enitire six blocks although, the rain did stop for a while. Consequently, I only took a "few" photos of the downtown area.

Incidently, the name Skagway comes from the Tlingit word “Shgagwei” which translates as “roughed up water” according to Skagway Traditional Council.

SKAGWAY FACTS – 

• Skagway was Alaska’s first incorporated city.
• Skagway has a population of around 800 in the winter, and 2,800 during the tourist season.
• Skagway has two grocery stores, The Fairway Market, and You Say Tomato.
• Food is barged into Skagway.
• Skagway is one of three Southeast Alaska communities with a connective road.
• Travel to Juneau from Skagway is only possible by boat and airplane.
• Skagway frequently gets high winds.
• Skagway’s most famous resident was the outlaw Soapy Smith.
• Skagway has a public library, recreation center, and medical clinic.
• Skagway does not “shut down” in the winter.
• There are four restaurants open during the winter months – The Station, Sweet Tooth Cafe, Skagway Brewing Company, and Glacial Smoothies.
• There are 4 Bars open during the winter months, Happy Endings Saloon, Skagway Brewing Company, The Elks Lodge, and the Eagles Lodge.
• Northern lights are frequently spotted in Skagway on clear nights.
• Skagway only gets 26 inches of precipitation a year, so there usually isn’t much snow.
• The Klondike Highway remains open year round but does occasionally close to clear avalanches or because of bad weather.
• The closest McDonalds, movie theater, or Walmart is 100 miles away.
• The White Pass & Yukon Route train is the most popular land-based excursion in Alaska.

Which is where we are heading next! 

 

 

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