Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: September 2023
Dawson City is located along the Yukon River. It is famous for being the centre of the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s. It was also once the capital of the Yukon before being moved to Whitehouse in 1953 following the completion of the Alaska Highway. Dawson City contains many historic buildings and a few museums to give a sense of what life was like during the largest gold rush in Canadian history.
Day 1: History of the Downtown
After spending the day hiking in Tombstone Territorial Park, we arrived in Dawson City in the late-afternoon. We checked in at the Visitor Information Centre, which shares the building with Parks Canada, to sign up for a historic walking tour later in the evening. Since we had some time to kill, we went for a stroll downtown to get a sneak peak of some of the historic buildings. And because the border along the Top of the World Highway was closing tomorrow, we had the place mostly all to ourselves.
In August 1896, huge quantities of gold were discovered on Rabbit Creek, which was later renamed Bonanza Creek. This led to the start of the Klondike Gold Rush. When news reached the outside world the following year, over 100,000 prospectors began to make their way to Dawson City. But the journey was long and treacherous. Around 30,000 people reached Dawson City in the summer of 1898. But by this time, most of the individual claims had already been purchased by larger corporations. And just as quickly as Dawson City became a boomtown, its population quickly declined due to the discovery of gold elsewhere. By 1918, there were fewer than 1,000 people left.
Given how quickly Dawson City grew, many of the buildings were hastily put together and built with wood and cheap materials. Most of the original structures were damaged by fire, but have been rebuilt over the years using a similar style to keep the authentic appearance of the city. The downtown today contains a number of smaller shops, restaurants and hotels. Parks Canada has also acquired over 17 buildings that are part of the Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site to preserve the history of the Klondike Gold Rush.
While some buildings have been rebuilt and restored, others look like they are about to collapse. The ground here used to be frozen solid all year. But the permafrost below the surface has been melting, which has shifted the ground underneath. This is why the roads and sidewalks aren’t paved as the sewers and water pipes underneath are also affected by the thawing permafrost.
After taking a break at our accommodations, we returned to the Visitor Information Centre to attend the historic downtown tour. Our group consisted of around 15 people. Our charismatic guide (who wore a period costume) then spent the next hour and a half leading us around downtown while explaining the history of Dawson City, including stories and tales from the gold rush. We even got to enter three buildings which are typically closed to the general public.
The Bank of British North America was the first banking institution that was established in Dawson during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. It eventually closed in 1968 when the last gold dredge closed.
The Red Feather Saloon was initially constructed in 1902 and is reputed to be one of the last saloons built and licensed in the city. While many of the furnishings in the current building are reproductions, some of the items are original pieces from the gold rush.
The Old Post Office was the first substantial building constructed by the federal government in Dawson City. It was completed in 1900 and helped demonstrate the government’s commitment to the region.
We wrapped up our tour just after 7:30pm. Since we had yet to eat dinner, we walked to Pan of Gold to order a pizza, which we took back to our accommodations at the Bunkhouse. Our room was quite basic, but it was clean and comfortable, and a nice change of pace from sleeping in our tent or in the back of our car.
Day 2: History of Mining
The next morning we drove to the Midnight Dome Viewpoint, which provides a panoramic view of the city, the Yukon River and Klondike Valley. It gets its name from the fact that people have been gathering here for decades to watch the midnight sun during the summer.
We headed back to the historic downtown and made our way over to the Visitor Information Centre to meet up for a one-hour tour of the S.S. Keno. We had the same guide as yesterday’s historic downtown tour and were joined by one other person. From the Visitor Information Centre, it’s a short walk to the S.S. Keno.
Before the Alaska and Klondike Highways were constructed, sternwheelers were used in this region to help transport gold, silver, lead and zinc and to bring in supplies and heavy machinery. The S.S. Keno mainly worked along the Stewart River and hauled silver lead concentrate from Mayo to Stewart City.
After explaining the history of the S.S. Keno and the use of steamers along the lakes and rivers of the Yukon, our guide took us aboard. We walked through the main and first floors, learning more about how the steam powered sternwheelers were powered by wood and what conditions were like for the people who worked or travelled on the S.S. Keno. Since our group was small, our guide also led us to the upper deck to check out the captain’s wheel.
After our tour ended, we walked around the block to the Dawson City Museum. The museum contains a number of galleries and exhibits that provide more information about the history of the area, its connection with the First Nations people, and about the Klondike Gold Rush.
After having a quick bite to eat, we made our way to the Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site, located along Bonanza Creek. We had signed up for another tour with Parks Canada to learn more about how gold was extracted from the area and to see the inside of the dredge.
Dredge No 4 was the largest wooden-hulled bucket dredge in North America that was designed to dig up gold. It was built in 1912 for the Canadian Klondike Mining Company and was used until 1959. During this time it operated 24 hours a day from April to November. It was considered more efficient than mining by hand, but required a lot of effort to construct and operate. It moved forward a half mile per season, but unearthed nine tons of gold when it was operational.
After learning more about the history of Dredge No 4, our guide took us inside and explained how it works. The dredge was decommissioned in 1959 after sinking in the Bonanza Creek. Parks Canada acquired it in 1970 and had it excavated and relocated. While it is still being restored, it is open for guided tours.
Once we finished our tour, it was time for us to hit the road again. We planned to return to Whitehorse to spend the night, which is about a 6.5 hour drive from Dawson City. The drive was rather uneventful, but we did spot a Canadian lynx by the side of the road.
By the time we made it to our accommodations, it was just before 8:30pm. Tomorrow we had a big day of driving, plus we wanted to squeeze in a day trip to Skagway, Alaska.
L
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Dawson City is very charming and is full of so much history relating to the Klondike Gold Rush. It was neat to just wander around town and imagine what life would have been like during the height of the gold rush. Thanks for reading and stopping by.
It’s much like the stories of gold rush towns here. They boom then get abandoned after the rush moves on. Or, even like the towns that followed the railroad line development. They boomed in anticipation of the development but we’re left abandoned when the railroad line bypassed them.
For sure. It was wild to hear just how many people made their way to Dawson City during the height of the gold rush and how much of an impact it had on such a small town. I’m glad much of the historic downtown has been protected and restored, thanks in large part to Parks Canada. You could easily spend a few days attending all the various tours.
An awesome post Linda. So much history. So glad you managed to do this trip. It was been on our radar for a while, but not sure we will follow through. CBC’s Still Standing recently did a segment on Dawson City. Did you try the Sour Toe Cocktail? Have a great Sunday. Allan
Are you talking about the famous, and pretty grotesque, tradition which involves enjoying a delicious cocktail at the bar of the Downtown Hotel, with one unique ingredient – a severed human toe? I’ve read that many toes over the years have been either eaten, stolen or fallen apart!!
The Sourtoe Cocktail seems pretty nasty! I had a good excuse of being pregnant to not try it. I can’t help but wonder why someone would want to eat or steal the toe!
I know! That’s so gross! But then again, it’s practically a rite of passage for visitors to Dawson City. Take care, Linda! Wishing you all the best for the third trimester, not long untill you meet your wee one – it’s so exciting. xx
That’s very true, it’s all part of the experience! It’s the same idea of the screech-in in Newfoundland where you have a shot of screech and then kiss a cod. We somehow managed to avoid that as well!
Thanks for your warm wishes. It feels like my pregnancy has just flown by! Less than a month and a half to go!
M did, but I just couldn’t!
I don’t blame you! Did M enjoy the experience? How did it taste?
Not at all. He tolerated it but wouldn’t do it again and once he had a tiny sip didn’t want to finish the drink, either.
HA! It still counts as trying it though! I’m sure his reaction was the perfect validation for you choosing not to partake!
I was shuddering! The ick factor was through the roof!
It was a good show wasn’t it? Made me so excited for our spring trip up there. But I am skipping the toe!
Thanks for your lovely comment. Dawson City has such a fascinating history and we couldn’t help but feel as if we were transported back in time while wandering through the historic downtown. I’ll have to watch that episode of Still Standing. Looks like it was released on Oct 24th (you weren’t kidding when you said that it was recent). We didn’t try the Sour Toe Cocktail since I’m pregnant. I tried to convince K that he should give it a whirl, but he wanted to share the experience with me. Who knows, maybe we’ll be back someday to take a road trip along the Dempster Highway. Enjoy the rest of the week. Linda
It always amazes me that people would do gross or dangerous stuff on a dare. I am happy to be a chicken. Allan
Me too. While I enjoy going on adventures, I’m actually not that adventurous when it comes to trying certain types of foods or drinks. And I’m okay with that 🙂
Amazing entry. I love that Lynx! It looks so different than the ones that I’ve seen in the Zoo. I’m glad that you were able to see old buildings.
Thanks for your kind words. I’ve never seen a lynx in the wild before. It was such an incredible experience to see it up close. Dawson City has such a fascinating history and all the historic buildings downtown make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Yes, it was so beautiful and a chance find.
The latter reminded me of the Ghost Town at Winfield near Huron Peak and the three Apostles in the Sawatch Range of the Rockies.
I just did a quick search of Winfield, Colorado. Seems like another fascinating area that’s been preserved in time. We have yet to visit Colorado, but I’ll make sure to add this to our list for when we eventually do. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Yes, that is it exactly. I couldn’t find a contact me link on your site! Please email me when time permits: rmtomboy@balance17.com
Wow, a lynx! I hope you are doing well.
Out of all the wildlife we saw in the Yukon, the lynx was my favourite. I’ve never seen one so up-close or in the wild before.
I’m eagerly counting down the days until baby arrives. Less than a month and a half to go! Hope all is well with you guys.
Wow, it went by fast 🙂 All the best from Sarnia!
Oh I know! Although I’ve heard the last few weeks of pregnancy can feel like the longest. I’m just taking things a day at a time. Hope your grandbaby and the rest of your family is doing well!
❤️
Dawson City is one of those towns that everybody seems to know about, but few people ever get to. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to visit for anybody who has an interest in Klondike Gold Rush history. I very much love the views from the Midnight Dome Viewpoint – the landscapes of Yukon are some of the most spectacular in the country. Thanks for sharing and have a good day! Aiva 🙂 xx
I’m not surprised considering how Dawson City is so remote. It was quite the trek to get there, but it ended up being one of our favourite stops during our road trip through the Yukon. It was neat to learn more about the history of the Klondike Gold Rush through the various tours offered by Parks Canada. Thanks for reading. Linda
Such a beautiful place with so much history! 🥰
For sure. It’s neat how much of the city feels like you’re walking through an open-air museum. It gave us a good sense of how the city might have looked during the gold rush.
What an amazing time you had in Dawson Creek Linda. I would have enjoyed every minute of it to from viewing all those historic buildings, taking the guided walking tour and learning about the Klondike Gold Rush then out in the nature spotting a lynx.
It was quite the drive to get to Dawson City, but it ended up being one of our favourite stops along our road trip through the Yukon. It was a great way to learn about and appreciate the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Parks Canada has done a fabulous job of restoring many of the historic buildings downtown. Plus their tours were very educational and entertaining! Seeing a lynx on the drive back to Whitehorse was a great way to end things off.
Wonderful, definitely want to try and do this sometime! Hope you are keeping well, not long to go now!
Thanks! It’s hard to believe that the end is in sight! Just over a month to go until baby arrives. I’m sure it will be our biggest adventure yet! Have a wonderful weekend.
Such an enjoyable and informative post, Linda. Dawson is such an historical place and fairly well preserved. M did the sour toe cocktail (as Allan mentions in his comment) when we came through from Inuvik. Not me, though. Ick!
Thanks for your lovely comment. Dawson City is incredibly charming and filled with so much character and history. Agreed, it’s amazing how many of the buildings downtown have been restored and preserved, thanks in large part to Parks Canada. I don’t blame you for passing on the Sourtoe Cocktail! I used my pregnancy as a good rationale to not try it!
Hi Linda, what an interesting trip. I didn’t know a lot about Dawson City or gold mining, just casual references to them. I had to look it up on Google maps and wow, it is way up there! A friend of mine may be moving to Alaska and if she does, I’m definitely going to tell her to visit Dawson City. Thanks for all these pictures too!
It’s a far drive to get to Dawson City and it’s the furthest north we’ve ever been. But, it was so worth it to learn more about the largest gold rush in Canadian history. Plus the downtown is very charming with all those historic buildings. If your friend does move to Alaska, it sounds like a perfect excuse to visit. We spent most of our road trip in the Yukon, but we’re hoping to return at some point to explore more of Alaska.
Nice! Interestingly, there was a car parked on our street yesterday with Alaska plates!
Dawson City has long been on my Yukon plan. It has a great and convoluted history. That Lynx picture is great! I’ve seen their footprints often, but never the real thing in-person. Maggie
It’s funny because we weren’t initially planning on visiting Dawson City. We ended up cancelling our ferry into Juneau at the last minute on account of the weather (so much rain) and so we could spend more time in the Yukon. We ended up going to Dawson City and Tombstone Territorial Park instead. I’m glad we did as this was the highlight of our time in the Yukon.
Out of all the wildlife that we saw along our road trip, the lynx was my favourite. I’ve never seen one so close-up before and in the wild. It was fantastic! Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
I would love to explore this town if I did a road trip up that way- the whole place looks like the set of a movie! Lots of interesting history to devour here. Looking forward to reading about your day trip to Skagway 😊🛣️
Dawson City is very charming. It felt like we had stepped back in time and got a better sense of what life was like during the height of the gold rush. It’s amazing how so many of these buildings have been restored and preserved. It seemed fitting to go visit Skagway afterwards to learn more about how many prospectors made their way here.
Linda, what an amazing experience you, K and baby had together in Yukon. Dawson City looks so charming and I bet it was very neat to have the place almost to yourself at the time of your visit.
That view from the mountaintop looking down at the city surrounded by the river and mountains really shows how secluded this city almost is.
One of my colleagues worked their one summer as a cleaning lady at one of the hotels and spoke highly of the experience living there.
I’m glad the government has put in effort to preserve the historical looks of the buildings despite the fires.
Looking forward to your visit to Skagway. I visited there in 2011 and looking forward to your take on the place.
The timing worked out well and we were able to explore Dawson City without the crowds. It was neat to wander around downtown and see many of the historic buildings. It felt like we had travelled back in time and definitely gave us a better sense of what this place might have looked like during the gold rush. I can see the appeal of living in a small town like this, but the winter sounds long and harsh!
It was impressive to hear how much of an impact Parks Canada has had on restoring and protecting many of the buildings and other historic sites around town. You could easily spend several days taking all the various tours offered by Parks Canada.
It only seemed fitting to visit Skagway afterwards to learn more about the route many prospectors took to get to Dawson City. It’s another charming town, but it was also insanely busy from all the cruise ships that were visiting.
We did Skagway through an Alaskan Cruise so had it from that perspective. Look forward to experiencing the town from your perspective!
In retrospect we could have timed our visit a bit better to visit later in the day when the cruise ships were getting ready to leave. But looking back, the crowds really weren’t that bad. We were just used to not seeing many people around from our road trip through the Yukon. And we’ll be one of those people someday as it seems like taking an Alaskan cruise is a great way to explore the scenic coastline.
Such interesting history and beautiful photos. What a thrill to seethe lynx!
Thanks for your kind words. Dawson City has such a fascinating history. It’s neat that many of the historic buildings have been restored to better tell the story of the gold rush. Seeing the lynx as we were driving back to Whitehorse was such an unexpected surprise. I’ve never seen one so up-close or in the wild before.
I am always absolutely fascinated by the stories of the gold rush and the towns and cities which boomed and died at such speed. It’s an absorbing piece of history. I’ve never really considered visiting Alaska so I’ll be very interested to read the next instalment.
For sure. It’s also interesting to hear how people would just pack up all their stuff and head somewhere in the hopes of making it big. We were initially planning to spend more time in Alaska and had planned to take the ferry into Juneau for a few days. We ended up cancelling this part of our trip to spend more time in the Yukon instead. But it seemed fitting to still visit Skagway due to its connection with the Klondike Gold Rush. And the fact that it’s not too far from Whitehorse.
The gold rush is such a fascinating period of history – it’s crazy there were tens of thousands of people and then just 20 years later only 1000! And that lynx – wow!!!
Oh I know. It makes you wonder about the folks that stayed behind! It’s also funny how the population has changed much since then. Today there’s just over 1,000 people that still live in Dawson City.
Seeing the lynx by the side of the road was such an unexpected surprise. We saw a lot of wildlife during our road trip across the Yukon, but the lynx was my favourite.
You saw a lynx?! Oh my goodness, that’s so exciting!! Also, wow, what a lovely setting for a city. I can imagine winters are cold and dark, but this time of year it looks so beautiful.
It was quite a surprise to see a lynx by the side of the road. I’ve never seen one this close before and in the wild. It was a wonderful way to end our time in Dawson City. One of the advantages to visiting in the winter would be to see the northern lights. But I’m with you, I’d much prefer going at the end of summer when the days are still long and the weather is warmer.
I don’t know which would’ve excited me more, the tours around Dawson City or seeing the Canadian Lynx! Actually, the lynx would’ve been exciting, but learning the history of an area is really what we love. Your tours look very informative, and it was nice to have most of the places basically to yourselves. I am impressed with your photo of the lynx though.
It was such a surprise to see a lynx in the wild. I’ve never seen one that up-close before. We saw a lot of wildlife during our road trip through the Yukon, but the lynx was my favourite.
Dawson City has so much character and history. It was nice to visit near the end of the season when there weren’t many tourists around. It’s impressive how many different tours Parks Canada offers. It’s a great way to learn more about the Klondike Gold Rush and about the city.
One day we will get there. We’ve been on an cruise to Alaska, but we want to drive there too and see more.
You could probably spend months exploring Alaska. Seems like there is so much to see along the coastline and in the interior. Sounds like it could be an epic road trip.
Epic for sure! We’ve been there on a cruise, but we would love to really dig into the interior and see all of the national parks.
Me too! But then again, I’d love to visit all the national parks across North America! If only we had more time and vacation days!
Our issues too. I think the lack of time (and money) is a universal problem.
Yup! But hey, I guess it makes you appreciate it even more since time and money are limited.
I agree!
It’s a bit ironic there’s a Dawson City museum – it looks like the whole city is a museum.
Oh I know. The entire downtown felt like we were wandering through an open-air museum. I’m glad we went towards the end of the season when there weren’t many people around.
While I enjoy visiting ancient sites, I realized I never put too much attention to historic mining towns, which now I know I should. Dawson City looks really interesting with those old structures and machineries, including the wooden dredge. It’s unfortunate about the thawing of the permafrost. I hope the local government will take necessary steps to prevent the historic part of the town from further deteriorating.
Canada has had a long history of mining. One of the most interesting and famous examples was during the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon. It’s amazing how much of the city has been restored which makes you feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Parks Canada has been buying up many of the historic buildings downtown to help protect and preserve their stories. But the thawing permafrost has become a bit of a concern, especially for the sewer and water systems. The city has made a few upgrades over the years, but I think these have all been short-term solutions. It would be a shame to lose the historic downtown, which is an important piece of Canadian history.
So wonderful photography and inspiring historical places 🌹🙏👍🏻 written about Dawson City 🌃
so awesome post to read , some buildings are so old and abandoned viewing time 👍🏻🌃
All The Best Wishes dear friend 👏💗✍️🌹
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It was neat to wander through the historic downtown and imagine what life was like during the height of the gold rush. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
It’s interesting to read how the discovery of gold could lead to small towns so quickly – and the decline after the big rush was over. (That’s exactly what happened here in South Africa with the discovery of diamonds). It was nice to go on a walking tour with you and see all the buildings of yesteryear. The post office is quite a lovely building and what a beautiful view at the Midnight Dome Viewpoint. Oh yes, and great photo of the Canadian lynx.
Oh I know. It’s wild to hear how much the population in Dawson City grew in such a relatively period of time, and then quickly declined. It’s funny because the population hasn’t changed much in nearly a century and today there’s about 1,375 people that live there. Goes to show that people really will move around with the hopes of having a better life somewhere else.
The historic downtown is very charming and it felt like we had travelled back in time. It was also well worth it to take the walking tour to get a sneak peak inside some of the buildings, including the old post office. And seeing that lynx on the drive back to Whitehorse was such a great way to end our time in Dawson City.
Those sound like some interesting tours! The restored buildings look very charming and are such a contrast to the ones that need some love. The lynx is very cool too!!
For sure. You could spend several days in Dawson City attending the various tours offered by Parks Canada. It was a great way to learn more about the history of the area and visit places that otherwise would be inaccessible to the general public. The melting permafrost has posed a big challenge, which is why some of the buildings have started to collapse.
Oh my gosh!! I can’t wait to visit here in June, and I am so going up to that spot to watch the sun never disappear. Lots to see and learn in this area. Thanks for a wonderful post about it. Also I noted the name of your accommodation – I guess I need to think about organizing a few things ahead of time.
If you visit in June then you really will get to experience the midnight sun!! Even though Dawson City is quite far, it was our favourite stop along our road trip through the Yukon. We could have easily spent another day or two here as there were a few other Parks Canada tours that we didn’t have enough time to attend.
Options for accommodations in Dawson City are a bit slim. There are a few campgrounds nearby, but I was getting a bit tired of sleeping in our tent or car and also wanted access to a proper washroom. Oh the joys of travelling while pregnant. The Bunkhouse was very basic and a bit noisy. But once we turned the fan on, it solved all the noise issues. It sure beat sleeping in our tent or car!
Oh yes I am so keen on being there for summer solstice! I’ve wanted to go to the Land of the midnight sun for decades. So excited for this trip.
I’m excited for you!! Even though it’s a lot of driving, it’s a great way to soak in the scenery. Happy trip planning!
Thanks, Linda. After Christmas, I will pull out the travel Yukon book and start seriously looking at spots to stop and places to stay.
Planning a trip is always a great way to get through the winter! Plus it’s always nice to have something to look forward to. You’re going to have such an amazing time in the Yukon.
I am so excited about it!!!
Oh and the lynx photo! Wow – not an everyday capture.
Oh I know! I’ve never seen a lynx this close before. And in the wild. It was a wonderful way to end our visit to Dawson City.
I’d say spectacular!
And to think we weren’t even initially planning to visit Dawson City. We ended up cancelling our trip to Juneau because of the weather (so much rain on the forecast) and to spend more time in the Yukon. It was definitely a good call.
I adore the incredible history of the Dawson, Linda. And you seeing a lynx was a fascinating treat! 🙂
Dawson City certainly has a fascinating history. It was interesting to wander through the historic downtown and imagine what it must have been like during the height of the gold rush. Seeing a lynx was such an unexpected surprise. I’ve never seen one this close before.
How cool to step back in time and get an idea of what this mining town was. I love the old bank and the Klondike Kate restaurant. I’m always amazed at those dredges and the engineering that made them. That must be such a hard lifestyle putting so much time, effort, faith all hoping that the ground will provide what they need to pay for all that effort. I love this post and the look at the mining town 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment. It’s pretty amazing how many of these historic buildings have been restored to better preserve the history from the Klondike Gold Rush. Parks Canada has acquired many of them and it was neat to get a sneak peak inside a few of the buildings as part of our walking tour. Mining definitely seems like it would have been hard work, especially given the climate and the fact that the ground is mostly frozen for the entire year. It’s not a lifestyle for me!
It’s like visiting an entire town-sized museum. All the buildings are so interesting. And ending your visit with a shot of a lynx is amazing.
Oh I know! It felt as if we were wandering around an open-air museum. We even got to go inside some of the historic buildings as part of our Parks Canada walking tour. Plus some of them are actually real businesses. Seeing the lynx was such a treat. I’ve never seen one in the wild before.
I also really enjoyed my stay in Dawson, which is like living in a page of history, with its well-preserved houses and, in season, many Park Canada seasonal workers in period costume on the streets.
Even though it’s a far drive from Whitehorse, Dawson City was so worth the visit. It felt like we had travelled back in time while wandering around the historic downtown. Parks Canada has done such a fabulous job of restoring many of the buildings. You could easily spend several days here attending all the various tours that they offer. It was easily one of the highlights of our road trip through the Yukon.
Wow, what an incredible sighting! The Canadian lynx is a symbol of the wild and untamed beauty of Klondike. Capturing this majestic creature on camera during your tour must have been an unforgettable experience, showcasing the raw allure of nature in this remote town. Nature’s wonders never cease to amaze!
We saw a lot of wildlife during our road trip through the Yukon, but the lynx was my favourite. I’ve never seen one in the wild before and so close! I’m glad I was able to take a few pictures before it disappeared into the bush.
Dawson city has great history and other buildings do need a facelift. This was a nice historical trip all the way to Dredge #4. You took a break from hiking🤭
For sure. Dawson City certainly has a lot of history and charm. It was fun to wander around downtown and see many of the historic buildings. It was also neat to learn more about how gold was found and extracted from the land. Seems like it was hard work given that the ground is mostly frozen all-year round.
There is a nostalgic vibe looking at those lovely buildings
For sure. It felt like we were walking through an open-air museum while strolling through the downtown. It was all very charming and helped us imagine what this place might have looked during the height of the gold rush.
This is truly a visit back in time to the Old West! Good to see so many well restored buildings. I love outdoor museums that capture a town or era. (Apologies if you’ve gotten this comment twice, don’t know where it went the first time.)
Oh I know. It felt like we had travelled back in time while wandering around Dawson City. It’s amazing that many of the historic buildings have been restored or rebuilt to maintain the character of the town and better preserve its history. I’m glad we managed to squeeze in a walking tour of the historic downtown as we even got a sneak peak inside a few of the buildings.
What a place 😍 I love how all the old buildings are still there
Oh I know. It’s amazing how much of the downtown has been restored and preserved. It helps keep the history of the Klondike Gold Rush alive.
What a fascinating place to visit! It’s hard to fathom just how quickly these towns’ fortunes came and went, but it’s great Parks Canada is buying and preserving these buildings to give visitors a glimpse into what life was like during the gold rush. The view across the Yukon River and the Klondike Valley from the Midnight Dome is spectacular. And your photo of the lynx is superb! It’s amazing what you sometimes spot along the side of a road.
It’s hard to imagine how that many people once travelled to and lived in such a small place like Dawson City. It’s also kind of funny how the population has remained relatively stable over the past century and today there’s only 1,375 people that live there. Parks Canada has been instrumental at preserving the character and history of the downtown core. It’s great how they offer so many tours to learn more about the history of the gold rush and about how some of the buildings have been restored. It was a real surprise to see a lynx on our drive back to Whitehorse. It was a wonderful way to end our trip to Dawson City.
This looks like such an interesting area. It looks like it really takes you back into time to the gold rush days. Very cool place!!!
For sure. Dawson City sure has a lot of character and charm. It felt like we had travelled back in time, which helps bring the history of the gold rush back into real life. It was also nice to visit towards the end of the season when it wasn’t very busy.
Such an informative and interesting post. I learned quite a lot today, from historic tours, to permafrost and midnight sun. And wow I’ve never seen a Canadian lynx even in photos. How big is it? It looks fierce.
Thanks for your kind words. Travelling is always a great way to learn more about our history. It felt like we were walking through a living museum while wandering around the historic downtown of Dawson City. Seeing the lynx on the drive back to Whitehorse was such an unexpected surprise. It’s actually quite small and at first we thought it was a coyote. I’ve never a lynx this close before.