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Skagway City Information

Overview

Attractions in and around Skagway

The Yukon and White Pass Railroad is one of the most famous and popular attractions in Skagway.  During the gold rush era, the narrow-gauge railroad was constructed within 2 years with little more than picks, shovels and blasting powder, an amazing engineering feat.  The historic route now provides three-hour tours to the top of the mountain pass and back to Skagway. Seated in parlor cars, passengers ride up the most spectacular part of the trip viewing scenery such as Glacier Gorge, Dead Horse Gulch, and Bridal Veil Falls. At the top they see the White Pass at 2,885 feet which is also the international boundary between U.S. and Canada.

Skagway is a delightful place with Broadway Street, the main avenue in town, bustling with activity and people, some in gold rush attire. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center is located in the old White Pass & Yukon Railroad depot and features displays, ranger talks and the movie, 'Days of Adventure, Dreams of Gold.' The 30-minute film is narrated by Hal Holbrook and provides a historical and realistic look back into the gold rush days. The park rangers also lead free 45-minute walking tours of the historic district at various times each day.

A seven-block corridor along Broadway features restored buildings, false fronts and wooden sidewalks. Look for the Arctic Brotherhood Hall.  Built in 1899, it's hard to miss with 20,000 pieces of driftwood tacked to the front, making it one of the most distinctive buildings in Alaska and one of the most photographed. The Trail of '98 Museum or Skagway Museum is jammed with gold-rush relics including many items devoted to the town's two leading characters, Soapy Smith and Frank Reid.

The Mascot Saloon, built in 1898, has been restored and features exhibits depicting the old saloon at the height of the gold rush. Corrington Museum of Alaska History covers the state's history, beginning with the Bering Land Bridge, recorded on 40 pieces of scrimshaw which is hand-carved ivory from walrus tusks. Captain William Moore and his son built Moore's Cabin, the oldest building in Skagway, in 1887 when they staked out their homestead as the founders of the town. City Hall consists of a granite building built in 1900 as McCabe College and later served as a U.S. Court until the city obtained it in 1956.

Gold Rush Cemetery, a 1.5-mile stroll out of town, features the graves of Soapy Smith and Frank Reid along with many stampeders' graves. From Reid's gravestone, it is a short hike uphill to the lovely Reid Falls, which cascade 300 feet from the mountainside.

In 1898, Skagway's rival city, Dyea, at the foot of the Chilkoot Trail, was on the shortest route to Lake Bennett where stampeders began their float to Dawson City. After the completion of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad in 1900, Dyea quickly died. Time, weather and the shifting Taiya River have obliterated all of the buildings that housed an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 people in 1898. The pilings of Dyea Wharf and Slide Cemetery are all that remain. The graveyard is where 47 men and women were buried after perishing in an avalanche on the Chilkoot Trail in April 1898. The winding and scenic Dyea Road connects Skagway to the site of the ghost town. Skagway Overlook offers an excellent view of Skagway, its waterfront and the peaks above the town.

The Chilkoot Trail is probably the most popular hike in Southeast. While hiking either all or part of the Chilkoot Trail, visitors will find history at their feet, literally. Hundreds of discouraged gold miners ditched their supplies as they gave up their dreams of Klondike gold and headed home. Old pick axes, wagon wheels, and shovels and countless other items are found along the 33-mile trail. Less adventurous travelers can walk just part of the trail, while hardcore hikers will want to take on the once-in-a-lifetime trek. The U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada as part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park administer the Chilkoot Trail. A permit is required to hike both the U.S. and Canadian portions. Information on permits and fees, customs requirements, regulations, camping, weather, equipment and trail conditions are available from the Chilkoot Trail Center in Skagway.

History

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