July and August are two of the busiest months for Alaskan Cruises, many of which depart from Seattle, Washington. It is highly likely that your cruise ship will port in Skagway, Alaska. The Gold Rush is an important historic element of both destinations. Just a few blocks from Pioneer Square is the Seattle Unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, and the main location is in Skagway, Alaska. Whether you are traveling on a cruise ship or an Alaskan family vacation, Skagway is a must-see and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park will be one of the highlights of your trip.
Here’s an introduction of what to do on your Seattle/Skagway Gold Rush National Historic Park experience:
Skagway, Alaska
The National Historic Park in Skagway tells the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. From 1897 to 1898, thousands of gold seekers traveled by boat and land to the Klondike region. With mining equipment in tow, they took the White Pass Trail and Chilkoot Pass to eventually get to Dawson City.
Today, your visit starts at the White Pass & Yukon Route Depot, which has been turned into the visitor’s center and headquarters for the national park service unit. The visitor’s center is open every day from May through September, 8:30am to 5:30pm. The park encompasses 20 historical buildings, including four museums.
Things to Do:
– Watch the park film “Gold Fever: Race to the Klondike” to get an overview of the Klondike Gold Rush and Skagway’s role.
– Take a ranger-guided tour of Jeff Smith’s Parlor (Saloon) Museum, the oldest museum in Alaska. The collection includes gold rush artifacts, and the tour focuses on the legend of Jeff “Soapy” Smith. Tours are limited to 14 guests, so make sure to reserve a ticket on recreation.gov or at the visitor’s center.
– Take a self-guided tour of the Visitor’s Center Museum, Moore House Museum, and Mascot Saloon Museum. Each tells a different Gold Rush era story.
– Day hikes in Skagway are very popular. Pick up a trail map at the visitor’s center— there are about a dozen easy to strenuous trails. A few of the “easy” shorter options (less than 2 hours roundtrip) are to Yakutania Point, Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls, and Lower Dewey Lake.
– Backpack the Historic Chilkoot Trail. Over 10,000 people hike this trail every year after significant planning and preparation. If you are considering the Chilkoot, you will need 3-5 days to complete it. This is a bucket list hike for any outdoor hiking enthusiast. The Chilkoot Trail Center issues permits and educates hikers prior to hitting the trail.
Bonus: Have lunch and take the tour at the historic Red Onion Saloon. The establishment was built in 1897 during the Klondike Gold Rush and was also one of the finest bordellos in town.
Seattle, Washington
The Seattle unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park is open year-round . Here, you will learn the story of the almost 100,000 individuals coming from ports in the western United States to the Alaskan gold fields. Seattle was an important stop on the way to purchase food, supplies, and equipment before boarding a steamship.
Things to Do:
– The visitor’s center shows two films to put the gold rush in perspective, highlighting the risks and potential for reward. Watch films – “Gold Fever: Race to the Klondike” and “Seattle: Gateway to the Gold Fields”.
– See the Kerr Room Exhibits – Chilkoot Trail: Inspired works from an artist’s point of view. This exhibit features the work of Yukon artist Daphne Mennell. Mennell spent two weeks hiking the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska and British Columbia.
– Walking Tour – Grab a walking tour map from the visitor’s center and explore the Pioneer Square Historical District.
Bonus: After exploring Pioneer Square on the street level, head underground for a tour to learn about the early history of Seattle. Bill Speidel’s Undergrond Tour 75-minute guided tour takes you through subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
2nd & Broadway
Skagway, AK 99840 319 Second Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98104
