Skagway (Skagua) Skag' wa'
“Skagua: place where the north wind blows" or "windy place." The Municipality of Skagway Borough, gateway to the Klondike. Skagway, located in the upper Lynn Canal, is considered the northernmost point in Southeast Alaska.
In 1887, Captain William Moore, a steamship captain, businessman, miner and explorer, was guided from Skagway by Skookum Jim through the White Pass trail, which became one of the famous routes to the Klondike Gold Rush. In the same year, Moore with his son, Ben, laid claim to 160 acres at the mouth of Skagway River and began work on a dock, a cabin, and a saw mill.
The California gold rush, which began in 1849, was playing out and prospectors began searching northward. There was known to be gold in the Klondike area. While the Hudson Bay Company was aware that gold was there, they did not realize to what extent, and did not want the area disturbed for fear it would negatively impact their considerable revenues from the fur trade.
In August 1896, Keish-Shookum Jim, George Carmack, Kate Carmack (Shaw Tlaa-sister of Shookum Jim), and Dawson Charlie (K'aa Gook-Shookum Jim and Kate's nephew) were traveling south of the Klondike River. They found gold in Rabbit Creek, which was renamed Bonanza Creek. The Yukon was so remote that word of the find spread slowly. It is estimated that around 30,000 of the 100,000 prospectors who set out for the Klondike actually made it there, and out of that maybe 4,000 found gold. The story of the Klondike Gold Rush is one of many stories, which even today are challenged, but it was an interesting time with many colorful stories.
For Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike, transportation was the key to its success. A deep water port, Skagway was accessible to ship traffic and prospectors could follow the White Pass Trail that led from the town to the Klondike gold fields. Skagway’s competition for access to the gold was Dyea (Dye-EE or Die-ee), located at the upper end of Taiya Inlet, just west of Skagway. The Dyea route is the Chilkoot Trail (The Golden Staircase). While the White Pass Trail that led from Skagway wasn't as steep, it was also known as Dead Horse Trail because around 3,000 horses were lost in attempts to reach the summit. Both trails end at Lake Bennett. The arduous 600-mile journey to the gold fields, with one year of supplies in tow, broke many dreams of striking it rich.
The railroad began construction in May 1898 and by July 1899 it reached Lake Bennett. The White Pass & Yukon Route climbs from sea level in Skagway to about 3,000 feet in just 20 miles. The rails are three feet apart (a narrow gauge railroad). It is compared to other engineering greats like the Panama Canal, Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
The lure of gold attracted all kinds of characters and Jefferson "Soapy" Smith was one of them. He had been traveling around the southwestern United States operating a con game involving bars of soap (thus, the nickname). With the help of a shill, he convinced the gullible crowds that random bars of soap actually had $100 bills concealed under the blue tissue paper wrapping. In Denver, Colorado, Smith's power and gang grew, as did his influence at City Hall. Eventually, he became too well known, and even the most corrupt city officials could not protect him. So Soapy moved his operation to Alaska.
Soapy opened his own saloon, Jeff Smith Parlor, in Skagway and began operating various cons. At one time, he operated a fake telegraph office, offering miners a chance to telegraph home for $5.00. The only problem was, the telegraph did not even reach Skagway until 1900, after Soapy's death. Soapy Smith, with his gang of bunco men conned and robbed for a while, but finally went too far when they robbed John Douglas Stewart of a year’s worth of gold. One evening shortly following that incident, the Skagway Citizens Committee called a meeting. When Soapy learned about the meeting, he grabbed a rifle and several of his men and headed for the Juneau Co. wharf, where the group of about 200 men had assembled. As he approached the group, he was challenged by Frank Reid, the town surveyor, who was one of four guards providing security for the assembled citizens. The confrontation led to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the deaths of both men. In Skagway today, the legend of Soapy Smith lives on.
The gold rush came to an end around 1900. Today, the population of full-time residents in Skagway numbers around 900. During the summertime cruise season, the number of town residents soars to 2,000 people, with approximately 750,000 tourists arriving on 375 cruise ships annually.
“Skagua: place where the north wind blows" or "windy place." The Municipality of Skagway Borough, gateway to the Klondike. Skagway, located in the upper Lynn Canal, is considered the northernmost point in Southeast Alaska.
In 1887, Captain William Moore, a steamship captain, businessman, miner and explorer, was guided from Skagway by Skookum Jim through the White Pass trail, which became one of the famous routes to the Klondike Gold Rush. In the same year, Moore with his son, Ben, laid claim to 160 acres at the mouth of Skagway River and began work on a dock, a cabin, and a saw mill.
The California gold rush, which began in 1849, was playing out and prospectors began searching northward. There was known to be gold in the Klondike area. While the Hudson Bay Company was aware that gold was there, they did not realize to what extent, and did not want the area disturbed for fear it would negatively impact their considerable revenues from the fur trade.
In August 1896, Keish-Shookum Jim, George Carmack, Kate Carmack (Shaw Tlaa-sister of Shookum Jim), and Dawson Charlie (K'aa Gook-Shookum Jim and Kate's nephew) were traveling south of the Klondike River. They found gold in Rabbit Creek, which was renamed Bonanza Creek. The Yukon was so remote that word of the find spread slowly. It is estimated that around 30,000 of the 100,000 prospectors who set out for the Klondike actually made it there, and out of that maybe 4,000 found gold. The story of the Klondike Gold Rush is one of many stories, which even today are challenged, but it was an interesting time with many colorful stories.
For Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike, transportation was the key to its success. A deep water port, Skagway was accessible to ship traffic and prospectors could follow the White Pass Trail that led from the town to the Klondike gold fields. Skagway’s competition for access to the gold was Dyea (Dye-EE or Die-ee), located at the upper end of Taiya Inlet, just west of Skagway. The Dyea route is the Chilkoot Trail (The Golden Staircase). While the White Pass Trail that led from Skagway wasn't as steep, it was also known as Dead Horse Trail because around 3,000 horses were lost in attempts to reach the summit. Both trails end at Lake Bennett. The arduous 600-mile journey to the gold fields, with one year of supplies in tow, broke many dreams of striking it rich.
The railroad began construction in May 1898 and by July 1899 it reached Lake Bennett. The White Pass & Yukon Route climbs from sea level in Skagway to about 3,000 feet in just 20 miles. The rails are three feet apart (a narrow gauge railroad). It is compared to other engineering greats like the Panama Canal, Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
The lure of gold attracted all kinds of characters and Jefferson "Soapy" Smith was one of them. He had been traveling around the southwestern United States operating a con game involving bars of soap (thus, the nickname). With the help of a shill, he convinced the gullible crowds that random bars of soap actually had $100 bills concealed under the blue tissue paper wrapping. In Denver, Colorado, Smith's power and gang grew, as did his influence at City Hall. Eventually, he became too well known, and even the most corrupt city officials could not protect him. So Soapy moved his operation to Alaska.
Soapy opened his own saloon, Jeff Smith Parlor, in Skagway and began operating various cons. At one time, he operated a fake telegraph office, offering miners a chance to telegraph home for $5.00. The only problem was, the telegraph did not even reach Skagway until 1900, after Soapy's death. Soapy Smith, with his gang of bunco men conned and robbed for a while, but finally went too far when they robbed John Douglas Stewart of a year’s worth of gold. One evening shortly following that incident, the Skagway Citizens Committee called a meeting. When Soapy learned about the meeting, he grabbed a rifle and several of his men and headed for the Juneau Co. wharf, where the group of about 200 men had assembled. As he approached the group, he was challenged by Frank Reid, the town surveyor, who was one of four guards providing security for the assembled citizens. The confrontation led to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the deaths of both men. In Skagway today, the legend of Soapy Smith lives on.
The gold rush came to an end around 1900. Today, the population of full-time residents in Skagway numbers around 900. During the summertime cruise season, the number of town residents soars to 2,000 people, with approximately 750,000 tourists arriving on 375 cruise ships annually.